Compare towns
Derry vs Andover vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Andover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.1%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Andover | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116 |
36,652Highest |
30,964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
42.9±1 10% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.6%±1.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Andover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Andover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$172,606±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$855,600±$22kHighest 157% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,201±$129Highest 56% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 160% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.7%±7.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
30.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #68 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Andover · Greater Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Gr Lawrence Regional Vocational Technical | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.8 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.