Compare towns
Derry vs Windham vs Salisbury
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Salisbury has the oldest population (median age 51.5).
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 | Windham | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
16,038 |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Salisbury 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% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Lowest 4% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,917±$632 29% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278 9% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.