Compare towns
Salem vs Middlesex vs Windham 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 most renters (24.4% rent).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Windham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
1,943Lowest |
16,038 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Salem and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Middlesex 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% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Windham School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.