What stands out worked out from the figures below

Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).

Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).

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	Milford	Salem
People
Population	16,337Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH
Kids under 18	23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Salem and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	38.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%
	Salem and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average	$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH
	Salem and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH	$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH
	Milford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,522Highest 13% above NH	$6,992Lowest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Milford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than 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	15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Salem and Milford 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	#55 of 120 in NH	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Milford School District	Salem School District
High school in town	Milford High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.7Lowest	11.2Highest
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.