What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% 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	Hampstead
People
Population	30,964Highest	9,102Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH	45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH
	Hampstead 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%	21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Hampstead 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%±4Highest NH: 20.1%
	Hampstead 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%	44.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±1.6Highest NH: 6%
	Hampstead 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	$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH
	Hampstead 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±$16kLowest 18% above NH	$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH
	Hampstead and Salem 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	$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Lowest 5% above NH	$8,634Highest 30% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2%	44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Salem and Hampstead 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%	3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above NH	30 minHighest 13% above NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Hampstead 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	#49 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Hampstead 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.