What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Salem has the most affordable homes ($473k 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	Stowe	Salem
People
Population	5,285Lowest	30,964Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S.	44.6±2.7Lowest 15% 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	22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	16.2%±2.1Lowest 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+	25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	18.6%±1.7Lowest 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+	66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	38.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	4.3%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S.	$110,490±$9kHighest 37% 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	$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S.	$473,300±$16kLowest 42% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S.	$1,625±$146Highest 15% 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	$7,161Highest 130% above U.S.	$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	44.5%±9.6Highest 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	9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	75.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	19 minLowest 27% below U.S.	29 minHighest 10% above U.S.
Work from home	24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16.3%±2.9Lowest 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	Stowe Town School District	Salem School District
High school in town	Stowe High School	Salem High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Highest	11.2Lowest
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.