Compare towns
Salem vs Sutton vs Hooksett vs Atkinson
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).
Sutton has the most kids (19.6% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Sutton | Hooksett | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
9,452 |
15,057 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
44.3±2.5 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sutton 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% |
18.8%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Atkinson 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 37% above U.S. |
$147,125±$25kHighest 82% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
| Sutton and Atkinson 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. |
$523,100±$47k 57% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,190±$401 16% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below 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 | $6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$6,763 117% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
47.5%±24.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Sutton 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sutton and Atkinson 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 | #105 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Sutton | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Sutton High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.6Highest |
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| 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.