Compare towns
Salem vs Windham vs Derry vs Hooksett
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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Windham | Derry | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
16,038 |
34,116Highest |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Salem and Hooksett 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Hooksett 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% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 12% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Windham School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Windham High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
13.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.