What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).

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	Meredith
People
Population	30,964Highest	6,758Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH	55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%	12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Salem and Meredith 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%	34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	45.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Salem and Meredith 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	$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH
	Salem and Meredith 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	$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH
	Meredith 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	$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Highest 5% above NH	$5,006Lowest 25% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Meredith 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%	7.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.8%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above NH	26 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8%
	Meredith 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	#62 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Highest	11.1Lowest
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.