Compare towns
Salem vs Stowe 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).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
5,285Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Salem 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% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe 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% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% 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±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% 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. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Salem 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Stowe Town School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.