What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).

Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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	Rochester
People
Population	30,964Lowest	33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH	43±1.8Lowest about the NH average
	Salem and Rochester 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%	18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Rochester 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%	19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1%
	Rochester and Salem 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%	27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1 NH: 6%	4.3%±1 NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH	$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH	$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH	$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Highest 5% above NH	$5,334Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Rochester 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%	8.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	66%Lowest 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	26 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%	11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Salem and Rochester 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	#98 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Rochester School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	13.2Highest
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.