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 44.6).

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	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH
Kids under 18	10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	75.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH	$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH
	Durham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH	$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH
	Durham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH
	Salem and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$6,992Lowest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	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 NH: 7.2%	5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below NH	29 minHighest 9% above NH
Work from home	19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Durham and Salem 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	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Oyster River Coop School District	Salem School District
High school in town	Oyster River High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.3Highest	11.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	51 photos →	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.