Compare towns
Salem vs Hooksett vs Pelham vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Salem | Hooksett | Pelham | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
15,057 |
14,449Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Salem and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Hooksett School District | Pelham School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Pelham High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | 10.4Lowest |
13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.