What stands out worked out from the figures below

Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).

Salem has the most homeowners (75.6%).

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	Nashua	Salem
People
Population	91,294Highest	30,964Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH
Kids under 18	18.6%±1.2Highest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Nashua and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.9%±1Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Salem and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	41.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5%±0.6Highest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%
	Nashua and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average	$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH
	Salem and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH	$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH
	Nashua and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,799Lowest about the NH average	$6,992Highest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±4.2Highest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Nashua and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.8%Highest NH: 7.2%	5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the NH average	29 minHighest 9% above NH
Work from home	17.4%±1.6Highest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Nashua 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	#67 of 120 in NH	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Nashua School District	Salem School District
High school in town	Nashua High School South	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.8Highest	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.