Compare towns
Rochester vs Eliot vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Salem has the highest household income ($110k).
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.
| Measure | Rochester | Eliot | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
7,146Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Rochester and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Salem and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 71% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #19 of 133 in ME | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.