What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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	Somersworth
People
Population	30,964Highest	12,111Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH	38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	19.9%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
	Somersworth 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%	14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Salem and Somersworth 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%	31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	4.9%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Somersworth and Salem 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	$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH	$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH	$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average
	Salem and Somersworth 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	$6,805Lowest about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2%
	Somersworth 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%	11.2%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Highest NH: 72.8%	57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 9% above NH	26 minLowest 3% below NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%	11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Salem and Somersworth 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	#117 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Somersworth School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Somersworth 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.