Compare towns
Salem vs Sandown 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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Sandown | Windham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
6,628Lowest |
16,038 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| 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%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Sandown 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 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% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,893±$721 27% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$8,801 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer 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 |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Timberlane Regional School District | 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 Our Story | 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.