Compare towns
Rochester vs Salem vs Springfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Salem | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
30,964 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
| Springfield 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 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest 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%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Springfield and Rochester 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% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Salem and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$384,100±$50k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,992Highest 5% above NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield 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 | #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 Our Story | None yet | 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.