Salem, New Hampshire

Called the "Gateway to New Hampshire, " Salem is just over the Massachusetts border, making it less than an hour from Boston, the New Hampshire Seacoast, the Lakes Region, and the White Mountains. Salem has topped several “most livable in the US” lists in the past few years, mainly because it provides an excellent mix of community neighborhoods, award-winning public schools, strong municipal systems, an extensive shopping district, and convenience to I-93.

Salem residents, who currently number just under 30,000, can find quiet neighborhoods or live close to the bustle of commercial and industrial areas. Salem is mostly a middle-income community, but housing options range from apartment complexes to affluent developments of custom-built homes. Also available in Salem are lakefront vacation properties, homes and condos in retirement communities, and even some rural landscapes. Because of the strong industrial tax base, property taxes are among the lowest in southern New Hampshire.

Cultural and recreational opportunities are extensive and varied in Salem. Residents enjoy indoor swimming and ice-skating, extensive multi-use trails, golfing at several nearby courses, an excellent public library, and unrivaled shopping for the area in the malls and stand-alone stores on Route 28. Youth activities include active Boys Club /Girls Club programs, many youth sports leagues, and day camps. Salem’s Canobie Lake provides water recreation and several beaches; Canobie Lake Park, one of the largest amusement parks in New England, is located on its northern shore. Also in Salem is Rockingham Park, an historically important thoroughbred racetrack, in continuous operation since 1906. Nearby is The Mall Rockingham Park, one of the largest enclosed malls in the state.

Salem was originally called the North Parish of Methuen, Massachusetts as early as 1736. After the New Hampshire-Massachusetts border was established, the town was renamed Salem for Salem, Massachusetts when it was incorporated in 1750. Salem was a populated area long before European settlers came, however. America’s Stonehenge, an intriguing archeological site in Salem, may date back over 4000 years. Also called “Mystery Hill,” the site is a collection of stone structures including a large ring of stones, similar to Stonehenge in England, that is an accurate astronomical calendar built either by Native Americans or pre-Columbian explorers.

Salem’s public schools have adapted to population change over the years, winning several regional awards for excellence. Currently, the system supports 6 elementary schools (grades PreK-5) serving about 2000 students, 1 middle school (grades 6-8) serving over 1200 students, and 1 high school (grades 9-12), serving over 2000 students. Salem also hosts 3 private parochial day schools (serving grades K-8), several private preschools and learning centers, and the Merrimack Valley Montessori School.

Sources:

http://www.ci.salem.nh.us/

http://www.nhes.state.nh.us/elmi/htmlprofiles/salem.html

http://www.salemschooldistrictnh.com/