What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most kids (16.2% under 18).

Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).

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	Hampton
People
Population	30,964Highest	16,426Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH	55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%	11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	42.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%	3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Salem and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH	$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH
	Salem and Hampton 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	$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH	$1,628±$94Highest 9% above NH
	Hampton and Salem 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	$6,813Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hampton 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%	5.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above NH	26 minLowest 3% below NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Hampton 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	#31 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Winnacunnet High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	10.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.