Cresswind Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Salem, New Hampshire
What It Is Like to Retire in Salem
Known as the Gateway to New Hampshire, Salem is the first exit in the state along interstate 93 North. The town is a big favorite with retirees as 46% of the 30,000 residents are 50+ years old. Located in Rockingham County, it is considered to be part of the greater Boston area, with the city just 35miles south. Salem is home to a Rockingham Park, a very large mall, and to Canoe Lake Park, an amusement park established in 1902, and still a popular spot today. Tuscan Village, a mixed-use 170-acre development that began in 2017, and is ongoing, and includes retail shops, restaurants, medical offices, businesses, condos and apartments. Salem also boasts a multi-use trail, a lake, a Town Forest for hiking and biking, a casino, and three golf courses. Recently, Salem was named as one of the 10 Best Places to Retire in the U.S. in 2022, by Money.com
Where to Retire in Salem and Home Prices
The town is made up of several neighborhoods, and Zillow reports the median home value was $533,556 in mid-2022, which reflects a 20% increase over the past year. Tuscan Village is a new mixed-use development that offers rental apartments, and villas, along with more new construction planned for the future.
What Is Special about Salem
Salem's location in the tax-friendly state of New Hampshire, yet is very close to Boston, Massachusetts, is a plus. Salem offers an array of outdoor recreation with the Town Forest that residents enjoy for walking and biking, The Field of Dreams Community Park features an outdoor fitness trail, hiking trails, a picnic area, and a stage for summer concerts; The Salem Bike-Ped Corridor is a paved multi-use trail that will eventually be five miles long; Rockingham Park is a very large shopping mall, and Tuscon Village offers shops, dining and business venues. Money.com chose Salem as one of its top 10 towns for retirees because of its amenities that serve a wide range of interests including the Philharmonic Orchestra, the Salem Town Forest, a casino, and the Canobie State Park.
What Is Not Special about Salem
High real estate prices, cold winters, and urban sprawl with growing traffic.
Who Will Like Retirement in Salem
Salem is a popular town for retirees, as almost half of the population's age is 50+. There is a range of outdoor activity year round, a great library, plenty of shopping opportunities, and a very active senior center for those 60+ that provides more than 200 structured activities, programs, and services including bocce, golf, horseshoes, pickleball, tennis and a walking club. Health care is nearby along with easy access to Boston.
Local Economy Is Driven by
Retail and manufacturing are the biggest economic drivers in Salem. With no sales tax, Salem has become a commercial hub and a popular place to shop, and is home to the Mall at Rockingham Park that provides 1 million square feet of shopping space.
Climate and Physical Environment
Canobie Lake lies on the town's western boundary and Arlington Mill Reservoir is in the north. The highest point in Salem is the summit of Gordon's Hill which sits at 380 feet above sea level. The average January temperature here is 24 degrees, with July's average at 72 degrees. Salem gets about 60" of snow annually.
Restaurants & Cultural Scene
For a small to mid-sized town there are several dining choices which include restaurants serving seafood, Indian, or Italian cuisine, along with cafes and a brewery. Seifert Performing Arts Center is a 700+ seat auditorium that offers programs for the community; TripAdvisor.com lists Canobie Lake Park as their #1 Thing To Do in Salem, with the park boasting 85 rides, games and live entertainment; New Hampshire Philharmonic Orchestra, known as
Crime
The crime rate here low.
Medical facilities
Parkland Medical Center is located in Salem, and there are many facilities and services available in the nearby Boston area.
Transportation
The nearest airport is Manchester
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