Compare towns
Salem vs Methuen vs Hooksett vs Goffstown
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 most people working from home (16.3%).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Methuen | Hooksett | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
53,475Highest |
15,057Lowest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1 6% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goffstown 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Goffstown 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. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Methuen and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,941 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Goffstown 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Methuen | Hooksett School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Methuen High | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— | 12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.