Compare towns
Derry vs Salem vs South Hooksett
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 people working from home (16.3%).
South Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
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 | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339 |
30,964Highest |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% 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%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
| South Hooksett and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Salem and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137 4% above NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer 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% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | — | Salem School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Salem High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.2 |
— |
| 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.