What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

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	Northfield	Salem
People
Population	4,971Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH
	Salem and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Northfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Salem and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	38.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%
	Northfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH	$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH
	Salem and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,097Lowest 24% below NH	$6,992Highest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Salem and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%	5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	29 minHighest 9% above NH
Work from home	6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#109 of 120 in NH	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Winnisquam Regional School District	Salem School District
High school in town	None in town	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.