Compare towns
Salem vs Merrimack 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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Merrimack has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Merrimack | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
28,164 |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Salem and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack 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 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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 NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Merrimack 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 |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Salem and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hooksett 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 |
$7,345Highest 10% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Merrimack School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Merrimack High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.5Highest |
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| 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.