What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).

Salem has the most affordable 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	Hollis	Salem
People
Population	8,603Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	49.4±5Highest 14% above NH	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH
	Hollis and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21%±4Highest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Hollis and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Hollis and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	57.3%Highest NH: 40.6%	38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%
	Salem and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH	$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH	$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,598±$302Lowest 7% above NH	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH
	Salem and Hollis 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	31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Salem and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	29 minHighest 9% above NH
Work from home	29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#8 of 120 in NH	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District	Salem School District
High school in town	Hollis-Brookline High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.8Highest	11.2Lowest
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.