What stands out worked out from the figures below

Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).

Salem has the oldest population (median age 39.3).

Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Durham	Salem
People
Population	15,080Lowest	44,795Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S.	39.3±1.5Highest about the U.S. average
Kids under 18	10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	15.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	17.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	47.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%	8.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S.	$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$504,300±$41kLowest 52% above U.S.	$542,800±$18kHighest 63% above U.S.
	Salem and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S.	$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Durham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.
Work from home	19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.6%±2.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Durham 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	#9 of 120 in NH	#248 of 282 in MA
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Salem
High school in town	Oyster River High School	Salem High
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	9.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	51 photos →	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.