Compare towns
Rochester vs Townsend 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Townsend | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
9,100Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Townsend and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Salem 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. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | North Middlesex | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | North Middlesex Regional | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
13.1 |
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.