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Community Profiles

Salem, NH


salem New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact Salem Planning Department
Jacob LaFontaine, Planning Direrctor
33 Geremonty Drive
Salem, NH 03079
Telephone (603) 890-2083
Fax (603) 898-1223
E-mail jlafontaine@salemnh.gov
Web Site www.townofsalemnh.org

Municipal Office Hours Town Manager, Town Clerk, Tax Collector: Monday to Friday, 8:30-5

County Rockingham
Labor Market Area Lawrence-Methuen Town-Salem, MA-NH NECTA Division
Tourism Region Merrimack Valley
Planning Commission Rockingham
Regional Development Regional Economic Development Corp.

Election Districts
US Congress District District 2
Executive Council District District 3
State Senate District District 22
State Representative Rockingham County District 25

Incorporated: 1750
Origin: This town was known as the North Parish of Methuen, Massachusetts, or Methuen District, a name used as early as 1736. In 1741, when the boundary line between Massachusetts and New Hampshire was established, the North Parish, along with a portion of Dracut, became part of New Hampshire, and named Salem, after nearby Salem, Massachusetts. The area was organized as a district without township privileges. Residents petitioned for a separate incorporation five different times before Governor Benning Wentworth chartered Salem as a town in 1750.
Villages and Place Names: Arlington Park, Canobie Lake, Cluffs Crossing, Cowbell Corners, Foster Corners, Hampshire Road, Millville, North Salem, Noyes Terrace, Pine Grove Park, Salem Depot, Wilson Corners, Mount Ararat
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,218 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population change for Salem totaled 9,950 over 50 years, from 20,142 in 1970 to 30,092 in 2020. The 2022 Census estimate for Salem was 30,647 residents, which ranked seventh among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2022 (US Census Bureau): 1,235.3 persons per square mile of land area. Salem contains 24.8 square miles of land area and 1.1 square miles of inland water area.

Municipal Services
Type of Government Selectmen/Town Manager
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2022 $69,400,666
Budget: School Appropriations, 2020-2021 $125,320,410
Zoning Ordinance 1962/22
Master Plan 2017
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected:Town Council; Planning; Zoning; Budget
Appointed:Conservation; Historic District; Recreation; Communications; Economic Development; Ethics
Public Library Kelley

Emergency Services
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Emergency Medical Service Full-time
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Holy Family Hospital, Methuen MA 5 miles 310
Parkland Medical Center, Derry 13 miles 50

Utilities
Electric Supplier National Grid; Liberty Utilities
Natural Gas Supplier Unitil
Water Supplier Salem Water Department
Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupPrivate
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramNo
Recycling ProgramMandatory
Telephone Company Consolidated Communications
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessYes
ResidentialYes

(NH Dept. of Revenue Administration) Property Taxes
2022 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $16.05
2022 Equalization Ratio 82.0
2022 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $13.08
2022 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings74.9%
Commercial Land and Buildings22.9%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other2.2%

(ACS 2017-2021) Housing
Total Housing Units 12,888
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 9,091
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 703
Five or More Units in Structure 2,376
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 718
(US Census Bureau) Population
(1-Year Estimates/Decennial)
Total Population Community County
2022 30,647 319,424
2020 30,089 314,176
2010 28,776 295,223
2000 28,219 278,748
1990 25,841 246,744
1980 24,124 190,345
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2017-2021
Population by Gender
Male:   15,300 Female:   14,858
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 1,168
Age 5 to 19 4,891
Age 20 to 34 6,066
Age 35 to 54 7,352
Age 55 to 64 5,242
Age 65 and over 5,439
Median Age 44.4 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over 22,341
High school graduate or higher 95.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher 34.9%

(ACS 2017-2021) Income, Inflation Adjusted $
Per capita income $46,490
Median family income $109,733
Median household income $91,276
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $69,745
Female $57,263
Individuals below the poverty level 4.7%

(NHES - ELMI) Labor Force
Annual Average 2012 2022
Civilian Labor Force 17,520 18,979
Employed 16,330 18,402
Unemployed 1,190 577
Unemployment Rate 6.8% 3.0%

(NHES - ELMI) Employment & Wages
Annual Average Covered Employment 2012 2022
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 2,061 2,744
Average Weekly Wage $1,406 $1,432
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 17,887 16,856
Average Weekly Wage $764 $1,179
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 19,948 19,599
Average Weekly Wage $830 $1,214
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 1,200 1,188
Average Weekly Wage $915 $1,162
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 21,148 20,787
Average Weekly Wage $835 $1,211

If "n" appears, data does not meet disclosure standards.


(NH Dept. of Education) Education and Child Care
Schools students attend: Salem operates grades K-12 SAU 57
Career Technology Center(s): Salem HS Career & Technical Ed Ctr
Educational Facilities (includes Charter Schools) Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 7 1 2 2
Grade Levels P K 1-8 6-8 9-12 9-12
Total Enrollment 1,921 777 1,241 211
2022 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 22 Total Capacity: 1,279
Nearest Community/Technical College: Nashua
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Rivier; UNH Manchester; Franklin Pierce-Manchester; MCPHS; Northern Essex (MA); UMass Lowell (MA)

Largest Businesses Product/Service Employees Established
Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Comprehensive physical rehabilitation 300 1981
JC Penney Co., Inc. Retail store 200 1991
Reliable Security Guard Agency Security guard services 135 1986
Salem Haven, Inc. Elderly home 120 1955
The Home Depot Home improvement center 100 1992

Employer Information Supplied by Municipality


(Distance estimated from city/town hall) Transportation
Road Access US Routes
State Routes 28, 38, 97, 111
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exits 1 - 2
Distance Local access
Railroad Boston & Maine
Public Transportation CART
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Lawrence (MA) MunicipalRunway5,000 ft. asphalt
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 24 miles
Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport 4
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 26 miles
Portland, ME 87 miles
Boston, MA 33 miles
New York City, NY 235 miles
Montreal, Quebec 279 miles

(ACS 2017-2021) Commuting to Work
Workers 16 years and over 17,119
Drove alone, car/truck/van 81.7%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 6.0%
Public transportation 0.8%
Walked 1.7%
Other Means 0.6%
Worked at home 9.1%
Mean Travel Time to Work 28.0 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2017-2021)
Working in community of residence 32.5%
Commuting to another NH community 26.6%
Commuting out-of-state 40.9%
Recreation, Attractions, and Events
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
X Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
X Swimming: Indoor Facility
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
X Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
X Museums
X Cinemas
Performing Arts Facilities
X Tourist Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
X Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
X Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): McIntyre
   
Other: Canobie Lake Park; Salem Town Forest; Americas Stonehenge; Tuscan Village

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, October 2023. Community Response Received 8/18/23

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

 

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