Compare towns
Derry vs Salem vs Rochester
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 renters (40.9% rent).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Lowest |
30,964 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Salem and Rochester 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%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Rochester 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% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester 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% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $91,673±$11k 7% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% 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 |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137 4% above NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% 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 |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rochester 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salem and Derry 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 | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Salem School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | — | Salem High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2Lowest |
13.2Highest |
| 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.