What stands out worked out from the figures below

Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).

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	Plaistow	Salem
People
Population	7,861Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH
	Salem and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Plaistow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1%
	Salem and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%	38.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%
	Salem and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH	$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH
	Salem and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH	$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH
	Plaistow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,194Highest 8% above NH	$6,992Lowest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Plaistow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 7% above NH	29 minHighest 9% above NH
Work from home	13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Salem and Plaistow 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	#66 of 120 in NH	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Timberlane Regional School District	Salem School District
High school in town	Timberlane Regional High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.4Highest	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.