What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).

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	Ossipee
People
Population	30,964Highest	4,521Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH	50±4.6Highest 15% above NH
	Ossipee and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Ossipee and Salem 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%	26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%	2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6%
	Salem and Ossipee 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	$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH
	Salem and Ossipee 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	$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH	$1,601±$245Lowest 7% above NH
	Salem and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Highest 5% above NH	$4,401Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above NH	33 minHighest 25% above NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%	5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#38 of 120 in NH	#100 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Governor Wentworth Regional School District
High school in town	Salem High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2	—
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.