Compare towns
Derry vs Atkinson vs Derry vs Salem
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 (20.7% under 18).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Atkinson | Derry | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
7,267Lowest |
21,339 |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41±3 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry 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±$7k 10% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Atkinson and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,549±$137 4% above NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$7,278 9% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Salem 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Timberlane Regional School District | — | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | — | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | — | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.