What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

Salem has the most expensive 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	Hampden	Salem
People
Population	7,896Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.
	Salem and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Hampden and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Hampden and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.
	Salem and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 22	Salem School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	11.2Lowest
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.