What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alton	Salem
People
Population	5,994Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH
Kids under 18	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Salem and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%	38.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH	$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH
	Alton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH
	Salem and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,625±$146 9% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH	$6,992Highest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Salem and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	33 minHighest 24% above NH	29 minLowest 9% above NH
Work from home	13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Salem and Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District	Salem School District
High school in town	Prospect Mountain High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.1Lowest	11.2Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.