What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).

Milford has the most kids (23.7% 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	Milford
People
Population	30,964Highest	16,337Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH	36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1%	15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Salem and Milford 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%	37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%	4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6%
	Salem and Milford 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	$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average
	Salem and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH	$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH	$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH
	Milford and Salem 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	$7,522Highest 13% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2%
	Milford 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%	3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	64.9%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 minHighest 9% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%	15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Salem and Milford 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	#55 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Milford School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Milford 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.