Compare towns
Salem vs Sidney vs Hooksett vs Derry
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 expensive homes ($473k median).
Sidney has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Sidney | Hooksett | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
4,790Lowest |
15,057 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Salem and Sidney 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% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Sidney 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% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Derry 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. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Salem 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Derry 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | RSU 18 | Hooksett School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | — | 13.9Highest |
| 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.