Compare towns

Rupert vs Salem vs Sandgate

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).

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.

MeasureRupertSalemSandgate
People
Population
676
30,964Highest
435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
—
Median age
57.8±9.7Highest
49% above U.S.
44.6±2.7Lowest
15% above U.S.
55.7±5.4
43% above U.S.
Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
13.9%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
16.2%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
13.1%±7.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Salem and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
42.3%±8.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.6%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
26%±11.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Rupert and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.1%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.3%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Salem and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$88,229±$36k
9% above U.S.
$110,490±$9kHighest
37% above U.S.
$69,167±$19kLowest
14% below U.S.
Salem and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$362,500±$63k
9% above U.S.
$473,300±$16kHighest
42% above U.S.
$193,800±$31kLowest
42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,625±$146
15% above U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,594
47% above U.S.
$6,992Highest
124% above U.S.
$2,778Lowest
11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
20%±100
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±9.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Salem and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
6%
U.S.: 12.5%
5%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
75.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1977Highest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1959
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
27 min
3% above U.S.
Work from home
18.6%±9.2
U.S.: 15.1%
16.3%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
34.6%±32.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Sandgate and Rupert 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 — #38 of 120 in NH —
School district — Salem School District —
High school in town — Salem High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.2
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.