What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).

Salem has the most people working from home (21.6%).

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	Barnstead	Salem
People
Population	4,994Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	42.8±3.1Highest 10% above U.S.	39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Barnstead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±5Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Barnstead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Barnstead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.9%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S.	$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S.	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,003Lowest 92% above U.S.	$6,114Highest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	29 minLowest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#111 of 120 in NH	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Barnstead School District	Salem
High school in town	None in town	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	—	9.8
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.