What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).

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	Rochester	Salem
People
Population	33,144Highest	30,964Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43±1.8Lowest about the NH average	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH
	Salem and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Rochester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Rochester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	38.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1 NH: 6%	4.3%±1 NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH	$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,334Lowest 20% below NH	$6,992Highest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Rochester and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	66%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Highest 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	26 minLowest about the NH average	29 minHighest 9% above NH
Work from home	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Salem and Rochester 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	#38 of 120 in NH
School district	Rochester School District	Salem School District
High school in town	Spaulding High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.2Highest	11.2Lowest
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.