What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).

Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).

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	Kingston
People
Population	30,964Highest	6,275Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH	55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%	13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Salem and Kingston 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%	24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Kingston 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%	3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Salem and Kingston 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	$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH
	Salem and Kingston 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	$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH
	Kingston 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	$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH
	Salem and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Lowest 5% above NH	$7,906Highest 19% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	46.9%±46.4Highest NH: 48.2%
	Kingston and Salem 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%	2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above NH	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%	15.7%±4.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Salem and Kingston 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	#78 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Sanborn Regional School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Sanborn Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	12.9Highest
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.