What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).

Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).

Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Hanover
People
Population	30,964Highest	11,685Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH	28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%	14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Salem and Hanover 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%	19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Hanover 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%	88.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH	$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH	$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH	$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Lowest 5% above NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hanover 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%	73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above NH	20 minLowest 27% below NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 120 in NH	#1 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Dresden School District · Hanover School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Hanover High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	10.7Lowest
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.