Compare towns
Salem vs Williston 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 oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
10,144Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Williston and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Williston and Hooksett 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williston and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.