What stands out worked out from the figures below

Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).

Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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	Sullivan
People
Population	30,964Highest	687Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH	46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH
	Sullivan 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 NH: 18.2%	16.3%±5Highest NH: 18.2%
	Sullivan 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%	20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Sullivan 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%	28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%	3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Salem and Sullivan 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	$106,667±$20kLowest 8% above NH
	Salem and Sullivan 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	$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH	$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH
	Salem and Sullivan 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	$5,099Lowest 24% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2%	40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Salem and Sullivan 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%	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above NH	32 minHighest 20% above NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%	4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
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 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.