What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k median).

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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	Bedford
People
Population	30,964Highest	23,746Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+10%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH	45±2.2Highest 4% above NH
	Bedford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bedford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	63%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	4.7%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Bedford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH	$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH	$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH	$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Lowest 5% above NH	$9,803Highest 47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	59.4%±15.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Bedford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Highest NH: 7.2%	2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above NH	25 minLowest 5% below NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 120 in NH	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Bedford School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	13.5Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.