Compare towns
Hampstead vs Salem vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Hampstead | Salem | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
30,964 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
43±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hampstead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Hampstead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Hampstead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rochester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Salem School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.