Compare towns
Salem vs Bow vs Rupert
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Rupert has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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.
| Measure | Salem | Bow | Rupert |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,611 |
8,335Highest |
676Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.5±4.2 22% above U.S. |
41.5±2Lowest 7% above U.S. |
57.8±9.7Highest 49% above U.S. |
| Rupert and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bow and Rupert are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,398±$12kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$88,229±$36k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,000±$26kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$362,500±$63k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$40Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,539±$178Highest 9% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$4,594 47% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±7.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Salem and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1955 25 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±12.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Bow 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 | #376 of 484 in NY | #26 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | SALEM CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | Bow School District | — |
| High school in town | SALEM HIGH SCHOOL | Bow High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.5Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.