Compare towns
Salem vs Mapleton vs Pelham vs Hooksett
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Mapleton | Pelham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
1,884Lowest |
14,449 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Salem and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Pelham 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| 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 42% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above 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 | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | — | #48 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Pelham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.