What stands out worked out from the figures below

Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).

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

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	Springfield	Salem
People
Population	1,122Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH	44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH
	Springfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2%	16.2%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%
	Salem and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1%	18.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Springfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	38.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	4.3%±1Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$100,893±$19kLowest about the NH average	$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH
	Salem and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH	$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH	$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,946Lowest 11% below NH	$6,992Highest 5% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	44.5%±9.6Highest NH: 48.2%
	Salem and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	5%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	90.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above NH	29 minLowest 9% above NH
Work from home	16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8%	16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Springfield 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
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.