What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).

Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).

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	Chester
People
Population	30,964Highest	5,300Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH	47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH
	Chester 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%	19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Chester 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 NH: 20.1%	17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Salem and Chester 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%	41.1%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	4.4%±2.1Highest NH: 6%
	Chester 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	$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH	$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146 9% above NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Lowest 5% above NH	$8,464Highest 27% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2%	19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Salem and Chester 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%	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	97.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above NH	35 minHighest 31% above NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8%
	Chester 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	#38 of 120 in NH	#90 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Chester School District
High school in town	Salem High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2	—
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.