Compare towns
Berwick vs Salem vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Berwick | Salem | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Lowest |
30,964 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest 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 | $94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% 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 | $369,100±$19kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% 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 | $4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #38 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Salem School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Salem High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.