What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).

Gilford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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	Gilford
People
Population	30,964Highest	7,830Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+8%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH	48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH
	Gilford 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%	20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Gilford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Gilford 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%	45.4%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%	2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Salem and Gilford 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	$116,635±$11kHighest 18% above NH
	Gilford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH	$456,500±$56kLowest 13% above NH
	Salem and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH	$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH
	Salem and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Highest 5% above NH	$4,868Lowest 27% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2%
	Gilford and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	6.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above NH	22 minLowest 18% below NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	16.9%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Gilford 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	#45 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Gilford School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Gilford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	11.5Highest
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.