What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).

Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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.

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

Measure	Dorset	Salem
People
Population	2,092Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	45.9±7.5Highest 18% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S.
	Dorset and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24%±5.5Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	21.9%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Dorset and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,250±$40kHighest 38% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Dorset and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$569,200±$57kHighest 71% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,420±$296Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.
	Salem and Dorset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,489Highest 140% above U.S.	$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Dorset and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	22 minLowest 18% below U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Taconic and Green Regional School District #63	Salem School District
High school in town	None in town	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.