Compare towns
Salem vs Webster vs Hooksett vs Windham
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 renters (24.4% rent).
Webster has the most affordable homes ($339k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
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 | Webster | Hooksett | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
2,227Lowest |
15,057 |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
44.7±7.6Highest 3% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Webster 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 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Webster 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% |
19.4%±1.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Webster 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% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$338,500±$30kLowest 16% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Webster 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% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Webster 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Hooksett School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.