The Town FilesSalem, New Hampshire
Town in Rockingham County · population 30,089 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $473,300
- Household income
- $110,490
- Jan low / Jul high
- 20° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 58 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 12
- Median age
- 44.6
Salem is a town of 30,089 people in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $473,300, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks more vibrant than 96% of New Hampshire towns, better transit than 85% of New Hampshire towns, better for cycling than 81% of New Hampshire towns.
How Salem ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Salem is worth $473,300, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 4.3 times the median household income of $110,490, which is more affordable than 26% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,625 a month. 75.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Salem | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $473,300 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,625 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $110,490 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.3× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 75.6% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1977 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 2.8% | — |
Who lives in Salem
| People | Salem | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.6 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 18.6% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 16.2% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.7% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 5.0% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 10.0% | — |
| Work from home | 16.3% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 29.0 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 93.7% | 92.5% |
Weather in Salem
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 19.6°F. About 49.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 57.8 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 13 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 124 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 4 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on August 28, 1965 about 8.2 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 5, 1984.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 58 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on August 31, 1973.
Severe weather in Rockingham County since 1996
Rockingham County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Rockingham County
Rockingham County had 157,028 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,537 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Salem itself the ACS puts it at 2.8%.
Public schools in Salem
10 public schools with 3,912 students, about 12.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem High School | 9-12 | 1,114 | 11.0 |
| Woodbury School | 6-8 | 772 | 12.7 |
| William T. Barron Elementary School | K-5 | 373 | 13.3 |
| North Salem Elementary School | K-5 | 363 | 14.0 |
| William E. Lancaster School | K-5 | 298 | 13.0 |
| Dr. L. F. Soule School | K-5 | 264 | 12.0 |
| Mary A. Fisk Elementary School | K-5 | 247 | 10.3 |
| The Birches Academy of Academics - Art A Public Charter Sch (charter) | K-8 | 235 | 14.7 |
| Salem Preschool | PK-PK | 125 | 25.0 |
| Arts Academy of New Hampshire Chartered Public High School (charter) | 9-12 | 121 | 11.0 |
Towns near Salem
- Windham, NH4.4 mi · 15,817 people · home $723,300
- Atkinson, NH4.5 mi · 7,087 people · home $555,200
- Lawrence, MA6.8 mi · 89,143 people · home $415,200
- Haverhill, MA6.8 mi · 67,787 people · home $453,900
- Hampstead, NH6.9 mi · 8,998 people · home $521,100
- Pelham, NH7.1 mi · 14,222 people · home $552,600
- Derry, NH7.5 mi · 34,317 people · home $432,000
- Derry, NH7.5 mi · 22,879 people · home $391,200
Salem questions
Is Salem, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Salem scores better for retirees than 18% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 17%. 18.6% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.6).
How much does a house cost in Salem?
The median owner-occupied home in Salem is valued at $473,300 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $110,490, so homes cost about 4.3 times income. Median rent is $1,625 a month.
What is the weather like in Salem?
July highs average 82.9°F and January lows 19.6°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 49.2 inches of precipitation a year and 57.8 inches of snow.
Does Salem get tornadoes?
12 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Salem since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on August 28, 1965. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)