Compare towns
Sandown vs Salem 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
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Sandown | Salem | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,628Lowest |
30,964Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above 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 | 22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest 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+ | 34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Sandown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Salem School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.