What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).

Salem has the most kids (16.2% under 18).

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	Hampton Beach	Salem
People
Population	2,605Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH
Kids under 18	3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34%Lowest NH: 40.6%	38.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH	$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH	$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH
	Hampton Beach and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH
	Salem and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,115Lowest 8% below NH	$6,992Highest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton Beach and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.2%Highest NH: 7.2%	5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 5% below NH	29 minHighest 9% above NH
Work from home	26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	—	Salem School District
High school in town	—	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.