What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the highest household income ($110k).

North Bennington has the shortest commute (18 min average).

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	North Bennington
People
Population	30,964Highest	1,336Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S.	43.9±10Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Salem and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	10.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	31.9%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	21.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.	$68,571±$10kLowest 15% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.	$313,000±$40kLowest 6% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,447±$278Lowest about the U.S. average
	Salem and North Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.	$5,590Lowest 79% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.7%±26.9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Bennington and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	61.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	18 minLowest 33% below U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.3%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	North Bennington 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	—
School district	Salem School District	—
High school in town	Salem High School	—
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.