What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).

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	Stowe
People
Population	30,964Highest	5,285Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 15% above U.S.	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.
	Stowe 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 U.S.: 22%	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%
	Stowe 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 U.S.: 17.2%	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Stowe 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S.	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.
	Salem and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S.	$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S.
	Salem and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S.	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Salem and Stowe 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%	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Stowe 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	Stowe Town School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Stowe High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	11.3Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.