Compare towns
Salem vs Williston vs Hooksett vs Derry
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 highest household income ($118k).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
10,144Lowest |
15,057 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% 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%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Williston 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%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest 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% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Derry 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. |
$108,944±$7k 35% 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. |
$432,000±$17k 30% 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±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% 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 | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Williston 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest 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. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| 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% |
16%±2.8 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 | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Hooksett School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | — | 13.9Highest |
| 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.