What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.6%).

Hampton has the most homeowners (73.8%).

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	Salem	Hampton
People
Population	44,795Highest	16,426Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+7.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.5Lowest about the U.S. average	55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22%	11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	47.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	8.2%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$85,153±$5kLowest 5% above U.S.	$95,233±$9kHighest 18% above U.S.
	Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$542,800±$18kLowest 63% above U.S.	$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S.
	Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,836±$84Highest 30% above U.S.	$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,114Lowest 96% above U.S.	$6,813Highest 118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.9%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	56.8%±10.4Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Hampton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	49.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.	1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 8% above U.S.	26 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	21.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampton 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	#248 of 282 in MA	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Salem High	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	9.8Lowest	10.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.