Compare towns
Edgecomb vs Salem vs Palermo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Edgecomb has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Palermo has the most affordable homes ($260k 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.
| Measure | Edgecomb | Salem | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,251Lowest |
30,964Highest |
1,473 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±8.8Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
43.4±6.1 12% above U.S. |
| Salem and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Palermo and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Edgecomb and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Edgecomb and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$89,095±$15kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Salem and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,400±$36k 5% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$259,700±$54kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,235±$1kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Salem and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,577 15% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$2,506Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 21.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Palermo and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±10.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Palermo 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Edgecomb Public Schools | Salem School District | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.