Compare towns
Salem vs Manchester 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).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
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 | Manchester | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
115,643Highest |
5,876Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
| Salem and Hooksett 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% |
18%±1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett 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% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
| Manchester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$101,053±$25k about the NH average |
| Salem 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±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
$1,811±$283Highest 21% 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 | $6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$5,922 11% below NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
72.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | — |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Manchester Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.