Compare towns
Salem vs Lyndeborough vs Hooksett
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 most expensive homes ($473k median).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Lyndeborough | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
1,616Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Lyndeborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Salem 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above 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 |
$7,133Highest 7% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Lyndeborough and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyndeborough 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 |
| School district | Salem School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District |
| 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 |
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.