Compare towns
Suncook 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
Suncook has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
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 | Suncook | Salem | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,432Lowest |
30,964Highest |
5,876 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Suncook and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$101,053±$25k about the NH average |
| Salem and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,100±$22k 10% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
| Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,975 5% above NH |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±21.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Suncook and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salem and Suncook 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 |
| School district | — | Salem School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Salem High School | — |
| 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.