Wondering whether Salem still feels like a drive-to-everything town, or something more connected and convenient? If you are thinking about buying, selling, or simply keeping an eye on the market, Salem’s recent changes are worth your attention. From new transit options to mixed-use development and housing updates, the town is evolving in ways that can shape daily life and long-term value. Let’s take a closer look.
Salem’s Growth Is Changing Daily Life
Salem has long benefited from a strong location in southern New Hampshire. The town had an estimated population of 31,673 as of July 1, 2024, and the Census reports a mean travel time to work of 29.0 minutes.
That combination matters if you want practical access to jobs, shopping, and services. Salem’s road network remains a major part of the story, especially near Interstate 93 and Route 28, but the town is adding more ways to get around.
Commuting Options Are Expanding
For many buyers, Salem’s appeal starts with car access. Official town materials place the Tuscan Village corridor off Interstate 93 and next to Route 28, which helps explain why this area has become such a major activity hub.
What is changing now is that Salem is layering transit options onto that road-based setup. That gives residents more flexibility than the town offered in the past.
CART Adds Useful Everyday Mobility
CART already provides low-cost on-demand transportation in Salem. The town also offers a free Salem Shopper Shuttle on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
If you want options for errands, appointments, or occasional trips without relying only on your car, that can be a meaningful quality-of-life benefit. It does not replace driving for most households, but it does add convenience.
MeVa Route 28 Will Add a New Connection
According to Salem’s transportation information, MeVa’s fixed Route 28 service is scheduled to begin on April 6, 2026. The route will connect the Lawrence, Massachusetts MBTA station to Salem.
Planned Salem stops include the Aldi plaza, Target, Tuscan Village, Mass General Brigham, and other locations. For commuters and shoppers, that is an important shift because it adds another link between Salem and the surrounding region.
Tuscan Village Is Reshaping Salem’s Retail Core
The biggest visible change in Salem is Tuscan Village. This 170-acre redevelopment sits on the former Rockingham Park Race Track site and has become the center of the town’s mixed-use story.
According to the town, the completed project is expected to include about 2.8 million square feet of retail, shops, restaurants, hotels, entertainment, office space, and housing. That is a large transformation for one part of town, and it is influencing how people experience Salem day to day.
What Is Already There
Phase I already includes:
- A 256-unit apartment complex
- 96 townhouses
- A new Market Basket
- A Ford dealership
Tuscan Village also describes itself as a walkable live, work, stay, and play district with 15+ restaurants and 33+ businesses. For shoppers, that means more activities are concentrated in one place. For buyers, it points to a town center that functions differently than a traditional strip retail corridor.
What May Come Next
Salem’s FAQ materials say Tuscan Village Master Plan 3.0 is under Planning Board review. The proposal would convert 1.2 million square feet of previously approved life-sciences space into:
- 133 condominiums
- 50 workforce housing units
- A 150-key hotel
- 125,000 square feet of medical office space
- 78,750 square feet of retail and restaurant space
If approved, that would continue the shift toward a denser, more residential mixed-use area. In simple terms, Salem’s growth corridor appears to be moving beyond retail alone and toward a more complete neighborhood environment.
Salem Still Feels Suburban, But Housing Is Broadening
Even with all this new development, Salem remains largely suburban in its housing pattern. The town’s 2025 Master Plan says Salem has 13,031 homes, with 70% single-family.
At the same time, the housing mix is more varied than many people may expect. The same plan reports that 19% of the housing stock is multi-family units in buildings with 5 or more units, 5% is townhomes or 2-to-4-unit buildings, and 6% is manufactured housing.
Why That Variety Matters
A broader mix of homes can give buyers more entry points into the market. It can also give sellers a better sense of how many different types of households may be looking at Salem.
If you are searching in Salem, you are not limited to one format. Detached homes still make up most of the market, but condos, townhomes, and other housing types are now a more noticeable part of the town’s overall picture.
Home Values Show Strong Demand
Salem’s pricing data reflects a market with meaningful demand, but it is important to read each source on its own terms. The Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 ACS estimates place the median owner-occupied home value in Salem at $473,300, compared with $367,200 statewide in New Hampshire.
Zillow’s Home Value Index uses a different method and reports a typical home value of $612,342 as of May 31, 2026. Zillow also reports 57 homes for sale, a median sale price of $576,000, and a median of 7 days to pending.
What Buyers and Sellers Can Take From That
These figures should not be treated as interchangeable, since they measure the market differently. Still, together they suggest that Salem is a place where values have become notable within the New Hampshire market.
For buyers, that means preparation matters. For sellers, it suggests Salem’s evolving mix of location, retail, and housing options is attracting attention.
Long-Term Change Is Also a Policy Story
Salem’s evolution is not just happening through private development. The town adopted its 2025 Master Plan on April 23, 2025, to guide long-range decisions about the economy, housing, transportation, zoning, and capital investment.
That matters because it shows Salem’s growth is being discussed in a larger planning context. The changes you see today are part of a broader conversation about how the town should function over time.
Housing Supply Is a Local Focus
In the housing section of the Master Plan, Salem states that the current housing mix is too expensive for many residents. The plan sets a goal of producing 2,537 housing units by 2040.
That goal tells you something important about where local conversations are headed. Housing availability, flexibility, and affordability are increasingly central to Salem’s future.
ADUs Add Another Layer of Flexibility
In 2025, Salem updated its zoning ordinance to allow one attached or detached accessory dwelling unit per single-family dwelling. The town also hosted an ADU seminar on May 27, 2026.
For homeowners and buyers, that may open up more ways to think about property use over time. Whether your goals involve multigenerational living, added flexibility, or making better use of a property, Salem is signaling a more adaptable approach than in the past.
What This Means If You’re Buying in Salem
If you are considering Salem, the town now offers more than a simple highway-access location with major retail nearby. You are looking at a place where transportation options are expanding, mixed-use development is growing, and housing choices are slowly becoming more diverse.
That can be especially helpful if you want flexibility in how you live day to day. You may be able to balance suburban housing patterns with easier access to shopping, dining, services, and occasional transit connections.
What This Means If You’re Selling in Salem
If you own a home in Salem, these shifts can influence how buyers see the town. Many shoppers look beyond the house itself and ask what kind of lifestyle the location supports.
In Salem, the answer is changing. Access to Tuscan Village, regional road connections, shuttle service, future Route 28 transit, and a broader housing mix all help shape the town’s current appeal.
Salem Is Becoming More Than a Pass-Through Retail Stop
The clearest takeaway is that Salem is evolving into a more complete mixed-use community. That conclusion is supported by the town’s transportation updates, the continuing redevelopment of Tuscan Village, and recent housing-policy changes.
Salem still has the suburban framework many buyers want, but it is adding layers that can make life more convenient and the market more dynamic. If you want help understanding how these changes may affect your move, your sale, or your home’s value, Connie Distasio offers candid advice, local guidance, and responsive support across southern New Hampshire.
FAQs
How is commuting changing in Salem, NH?
- Salem still relies heavily on car travel, but the town now offers CART on-demand transportation, a free Salem Shopper Shuttle on select weekdays, and MeVa Route 28 service is scheduled to begin on April 6, 2026.
What is Tuscan Village in Salem, NH?
- Tuscan Village is a 170-acre redevelopment on the former Rockingham Park Race Track site, planned for about 2.8 million square feet of retail, restaurants, hotels, entertainment, office space, and housing.
What housing types are available in Salem, NH?
- According to Salem’s 2025 Master Plan, the housing stock includes mostly single-family homes, along with multi-family units, townhomes or small multi-unit buildings, and manufactured housing.
Are home prices in Salem, NH above the New Hampshire average?
- The Census Bureau’s 2020-2024 ACS estimates show Salem’s median owner-occupied home value at $473,300 versus $367,200 statewide, while Zillow reports a typical home value of $612,342 as of May 31, 2026.
Are accessory dwelling units allowed in Salem, NH?
- Yes. In 2025, Salem updated its zoning ordinance to allow one attached or detached accessory dwelling unit per single-family dwelling.
