What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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	Plaistow
People
Population	30,964Highest	7,861Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH	40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH
	Salem and Plaistow 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%	19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2%
	Plaistow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1%	17.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Salem and Plaistow 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%	34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%	3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6%
	Salem and Plaistow 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	$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH
	Salem and Plaistow 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	$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH	$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH
	Plaistow 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	$7,194Highest 8% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Plaistow 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%	4.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	78.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above NH	29 minLowest 7% above NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%	13.6%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Salem and Plaistow 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	#66 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Timberlane Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	11.4Highest
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.