What stands out worked out from the figures below

Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Salem has the most expensive homes ($543k 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	Dover	Salem
People
Population	33,364Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	36.9±1.9Lowest 5% below U.S.	39.3±1.5Highest about the U.S. average
	Salem and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.9%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Dover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	52%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$94,829±$7kHighest 17% above U.S.	$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S.
	Dover and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$436,700±$20kLowest 31% above U.S.	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,607±$100Lowest 14% above U.S.	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,249Highest 164% above U.S.	$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	48.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	54.9%±4.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	52.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1976Highest 4 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Dover 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	#64 of 120 in NH	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Dover School District	Salem
High school in town	Dover Senior High School	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.7Highest	9.8Lowest
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.