What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).

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	Sunapee
People
Population	30,964Highest	3,416Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH	56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH
Kids under 18	16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%	9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%	33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	50.6%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6%	4.5%±3.5Highest NH: 6%
	Sunapee 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	$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average
	Salem and Sunapee 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	$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$146Lowest 9% above NH	$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH
	Sunapee and Salem 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	$4,400Lowest 34% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2%	34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Salem and Sunapee 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%	12.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	75.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 9% above NH	33 minHighest 23% above NH
Work from home	16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8%	9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Salem and Sunapee 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	#14 of 120 in NH
School district	Salem School District	Sunapee School District
High school in town	Salem High School	Sunapee Sr. High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.2Lowest	11.9Highest
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.