What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).

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	Sandgate
People
Population	30,964Highest	435Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6% U.S.: +7.4%	—
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S.	55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Salem and Sandgate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Sandgate 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 U.S.: 35.7%	37.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Salem and Sandgate 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 37% above U.S.	$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S.	$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146 15% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Highest 124% above U.S.	$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Sandgate 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%	9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	27 minLowest 3% above U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Sandgate 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 History	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.