Moving to Salem, NH: a practical guide

If you are moving to Salem NH, the headline is taxes. New Hampshire does not tax wages and has no general sales tax, but you will pay a local property tax. Salem is a town of 30,089 at the first two exits of I-93 over the Massachusetts line, about 34 miles from Boston. This guide covers the money, the paperwork and the town services you will use first.

Taxes when moving to Salem NH

• No tax on wages. New Hampshire does not tax income from wages or salaries.
• No interest and dividends tax. The state’s old tax on interest and dividends was repealed starting Jan. 1, 2025.
• No general sales tax. You pay the price on the tag at the Mall at Rockingham Park, at Tuscan Village and everywhere else. See our guide to New Hampshire sales tax.
• One big exception: the state’s 8.5% meals and rooms tax applies to restaurant meals, hotel rooms and car rentals.
• Federal taxes still apply, as everywhere.

Property tax

Property tax pays for Salem’s schools and town services. The 2025 rate is $18.16 per $1,000 of assessed value. That breaks down to $10.07 for local schools, $5.90 for the town, $1.41 for state education and $0.78 for the county. Salem assessed property at 70.5% of market value for 2025, so your assessed value will likely be lower than your purchase price. The state usually sets each year’s rate in October, so a 2026 rate may be out soon. Check the Assessing page at salemnh.gov or call (603) 890-2115.

The town offers exemptions and credits for older residents, people who are blind or disabled, veterans and solar installations, plus a tax deferral for elderly and disabled owners. Ask Assessing what you qualify for.

If you still work in Massachusetts

Living in New Hampshire doesn’t erase a Massachusetts paycheck. New Hampshire residents have been subject to Massachusetts income tax for work they do while physically in Massachusetts. If you split time or work from home, talk to a tax preparer about how your pay is counted.

License and registration

If you move in from another state, your out-of-state license is good for 60 days after you move. Switching your car to New Hampshire plates starts at Town Hall, not the state DMV.

1. Establish residency with the town. Bring proof of your Salem address and call ahead to confirm what it accepts.
2. Register your vehicle at the Town Clerk’s office, 33 Geremonty Drive, which acts as the local agent for the state DMV. Bring your current out-of-state registration (the original), the title or certificate of origin, and your license. Financed vehicles need a bill of sale naming the lienholder. Cars from 1999 or older need two forms of vehicle ID.
3. Know the costs. The state’s online Vehicle Estimator gives a quote. New registrations are prorated by the month, and the town adds $3 to each DMV transaction it handles. Cards carry a convenience fee.
4. Get your license from the New Hampshire DMV. Specialty plates, such as veteran or antique, are also done at the DMV, not Town Hall.

Town Hall is open Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., and motor vehicle transactions stop at 4:30 p.m. The main number is (603) 890-2000.

Town services new residents use first

Trash and recycling

Salem runs a residents-only Transfer Station at 101–109 Shannon Road, (603) 890-2164. It is open Tuesday and Thursday–Saturday 7 a.m.–2:45 p.m., and Wednesday 7 a.m.–6:45 p.m. You need a windshield sticker, sold at the Town Clerk/Collections office at Town Hall. Bring a vehicle registration with a Salem address.

• Stickers cost $60 per vehicle and run Oct. 1–Sept. 30, with no proration.
• Residents 65 and older get one free sticker for a personal vehicle. So do 100% permanently and totally disabled veterans, with a VA letter.
• Each household gets three bulky-item coupons a year, for furniture, mattresses and the like.
• Sort trash and recycling before you go. Tires, construction debris and hazardous materials aren’t accepted. Watch for the town’s Household Hazardous Waste Day; the 2026 date is Oct. 17.

Library

Kelley Library, 234 Main St., (603) 898-7064, is open Monday–Friday 9 a.m.–8:30 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.–2 p.m. It lends museum passes and e-books, and it belongs to a consortium of southern New Hampshire libraries, so your card also works at member libraries such as Derry, Londonderry and Manchester.

Recreation

The Recreation Division, 1 Sally Sweet’s Way, (603) 890-2190, runs youth and adult programs, Hedgehog Park in summer and town events. Register online or in person; there is no phone registration. Residents pay less for Hedgehog Park parking: $30 for a season permit, against $60 for non-residents. See our guide to parks in Salem, NH.

Schools

Public schools are run by the Salem School District, 38 Geremonty Drive, (603) 893-7040. The district lists Salem Preschool; Barron, Fisk, Lancaster, North Salem and Soule elementary schools; Woodbury Middle School; and Salem High School. Start enrollment at the “Enroll New Students” section of sau57.org, or call the district office.

Commuting from Salem

• By car: I-93 Exits 1 and 2 are in Salem. It is about 34 miles to downtown Boston, roughly 46 minutes without traffic, and about 21 miles to Manchester-Boston Regional Airport. The state finished widening I-93 to eight lanes between the border and Manchester in 2021. Rush hour still adds time.
• By bus to Boston: Boston Express stops at Exit 2 in Salem on its I-93 route to South Station and Logan Airport.
• By local bus: MeVa’s Route 28 has run fare-free since April 6, 2026, from McGovern Station in Lawrence through Methuen to Salem stops near the Aldi and Target plazas, Mass General Brigham and Tuscan Village. It is a state-funded pilot, so check that it is still running.
• By bike: the paved Salem rail trail runs north from Salem Depot toward Windham and Derry.

Getting to know the town

Start with our list of things to do in Salem, NH, read up on Salem’s history, and check the events calendar for the parade, tree lightings and summer concerts.