Salem New Hampshire Community Profile
Salem, NH
Community Contact Salem Planning Department
Ross Moldoff, Planning Director
33 Geremonty Drive
Salem, NH 03079

Telephone (603) 890-2080
Fax (603) 898-1223
E-mail rmoldoff@ci.salem.nh.us
Web Site www.townofsalemnh.org

Municipal Office Hours Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 5 pm

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

Election Districts
US Congress
 District 2
Executive Council
 District 3
State Senate
 District 22
State Representative
 Rockingham County District 4
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 23,414 over 50 years, the fourth largest numeric change, from 4,805 in 1950 to 28,219 in 2000. The largest decennial percent change was 119 percent between 1960 and 1970, this followed a 92 percent increase between 1950 and 1960. The 2006 Census estimate for Salem was 29,580 residents, which ranked sixth among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.

Population Density, 2006: 1,192.7 persons per square mile of land area, the sixth highest among the cities and towns. 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, 2006 $34,837,418
Budget: School Appropriations, 2005 $45,500,000
Zoning Ordinance 1962/06
Master Plan 2001
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Director

Boards and Commissions
Elected:
 Selectmen; Planning
Appointed:
 Zoning; Conservation

Public Library Kelley

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Full-time
Town Fire Insurance Rating 5/9
Emergency Medical Service Municipal

Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Holy Family Hospital, Methuen MA 5 miles 249
Parkland Medical Center, Derry 13 miles 86

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier National Grid
Natural Gas Supplier Northern Utilities
Water Supplier Salem Water Dept.

Sanitation Municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash Pickup
 Private
Pay-As-You-Throw Program
 No
Recycling
 Mandatory

Telephone Company Verizon
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station Yes
High Speed Internet Service:  
Business
 Yes
Residential
 Yes

PROPERTY TAXES (NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration) 
2006 Total Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $12.62
2006 Equalization Ratio 97.7
2006 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $12.26

2006 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings
 72.9%
Commercial Land and Buildings
 26.3%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other
 0.7%

HOUSING (NH Office of Energy and Planning) 
2006 Total Housing Units 12,068
   
2006 Single-Family Units 8,149
Single-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 31
2006 Multi-Family Units 3,024
Multi-Family Permits Issued, Net Change of Units
 8
2006 Manufactured Housing Units 895
   
DEMOGRAPHICS (US Census Bureau) 
Total Population Community County
2006 29,580 296,267
2000 28,219 278,748
1990 25,841 246,744
1980 24,124 190,345
1970 20,142 138,951

Census 2000 Demographics
Population by Gender
Male
 13,994
Female
 14,118

Population by Age Group
Under age 5
 1,783
Age 5 to 19
 5,887
Age 20 to 34
 4,749
Age 35 to 54
 9,584
Age 55 to 64
 2,869
Age 65 and over
 3,240
Median Age
 38.1 years

Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher
 87.7%
Bachelor's degree or higher
 25.4%

ANNUAL INCOME, 1999 (US Census Bureau) 
Per capita income $26,170
Median 4-person family income $67,278
Median household income $58,090

Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male
 $46,330
Female
 $31,031

Families below the poverty level 3.1%

LABOR FORCE (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average 1996 2006
Civilian Labor Force
 16,536 17,550
Employed
 15,474 16,704
Unemployed
 1,062 846
Unemployment Rate
 6.4% 4.8%

EMPLOYMENT & WAGES (NHES - ELMI) 
Annual Average Covered Employment 1996 2006
Goods Producing Industries  
Average Employment
 3,290 2,957
Average Weekly Wage
 $799 $1,157
   
Service Providing Industries  
Average Employment
 14,950 16,644
Average Weekly Wage
 $467 $662
   
Total Private Industry  
Average Employment
 18,240 19,601
Average Weekly Wage
 $527 $737
   
Government (Federal, State, and Local)  
Average Employment
 975 1,185
Average Weekly Wage
 $647 $856
   
Total, Private plus Government  
Average Employment
 19,215 20,786
Average Weekly Wage
 $533 $744
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES (NH Dept. of Education)
Schools students attend: Salem operates grades 1-12 District: SAU 57
Career Technology Center(s): Pinkerton Academy, Derry; Salem High School Vocational Center Region: 17

Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools
 6 1 1 3
Grade Levels
 P 1-5 6-8 9-12 K 1-8
Total Enrollment
 1,812 1,167 2,276 539
NH Licensed Child Care Facilities, 2007: Total Facilities: 27 Total Capacity: 956
Nearest Community/Technical College: Nashua
Nearest Colleges or Universities: Chester College of New England

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Northeast Rehabilitation Hospital Comprehensive physical rehab 300 1981
JC Penney Co., Inc. Retail department store 200 1991
Key Packaging Industries Corporation High density polyethylene 190 1986
Reliable Security Guard Agency Security guard services 135 1986
Salem Haven, Inc. Elderly home 120 1955
The Home Depot Building supply 100 1992

TRANSPORTATION  (Distance estimated from city / town hall)
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 No

Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Lawrence (MA) Municipal
Runway
 5,000 ft. asphalt
Lighted?
 Yes  Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 24 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 8

Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH
 23 miles
Portland, ME
 87 miles
Boston, MA
 33 miles
New York City, NY
 236 miles
Montreal, Quebec
 279 miles

COMMUTING TO WORK (US Census)
Workers 16 years and over  
Drove alone, car/truck/van
 88.8%
Carpooled, car/truck/van
 6.9%
Public transportation
 0.2%
Walked
 1.0%
Other Means
 0.9%
Worked at home
 2.3%
Mean Travel Time to Work 26.4 minutes
Percent of Working Residents:
Working in community of residence
 30%
Commuting to another NH community
 18%
Commuting out-of-state
 51%
    
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 Faclity
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
X Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
X Bowling Facilities
X Museums
Cinemas
Performing Arts Facilities
X Tourists 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
Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
X Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): McIntyre
   
Other: Rockingham Park; Canobie Lake Park; Salem Town Forest; America's Stonehenge

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2007. Community Response Received 08/20/07

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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