Compare towns
Auburn vs Derry vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Auburn | Derry | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,119Lowest |
34,116Highest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Auburn and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,092 21% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #44 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Auburn School District | 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 Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.