Compare towns
Salem vs Meredith vs Windham 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 renters (24.4% rent).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Meredith | Windham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
6,758Lowest |
16,038 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Windham 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Windham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Inter-Lakes High School | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
11.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.