Compare towns
Acton vs Derry vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Acton | Derry | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,721Lowest |
34,116Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Salem and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #43 of 133 in ME | #60 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Acton Public Schools | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.