Compare towns
Salem vs South Hooksett vs Goffstown
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 most people working from home (16.3%).
South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | South Hooksett | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
5,902Lowest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
| Salem and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Goffstown and South Hooksett 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 |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
| South 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±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Salem and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Salem and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | — | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | — | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| 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.