Compare towns
Salem vs Hooksett vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pepperell has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
15,057 |
11,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Salem and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pepperell and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell 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 42% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Salem School District | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.