Compare towns
Rupert vs Salem vs Waltham
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 most homeowners (93.7%).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Waltham has the most people working from home (20.6%).
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.
| Measure | Rupert | Salem | Waltham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 676 |
30,964Highest |
452Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 57.8±9.7 49% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S. |
60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
| Waltham and Rupert 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% |
12.8%±7.4Lowest 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%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waltham and Rupert 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Salem and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,229±$36kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
| Salem and Waltham 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. |
$329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,594Lowest 47% above U.S. |
$6,992Highest 124% above U.S. |
$5,714 83% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.2%±58.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1955Lowest 25 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±9.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Waltham 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.