What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Berwick has the most kids (22.5% under 18).

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	Berwick
People
Population	30,964Highest	1,998Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.	42.6±3.6Lowest 10% above U.S.
	Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22%
	Berwick and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	35.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.	$81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average
	Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.	$323,300±$36kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S.
	Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.	$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	73%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.7%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Salem and Berwick 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	#101 of 133 in ME
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 Our Story	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.