Compare towns
Derry vs Salem vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Salem has the most homeowners (75.6%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Derry | Salem | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Lowest |
30,964Highest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Salem and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11k 7% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Salem and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k about the NH average |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137 4% above NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Salem and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278Highest 9% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest 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 | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Salem and Keene 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Salem School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Salem High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.