Compare towns
Derry vs Brookline vs Rochester 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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Brookline | Rochester | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
5,736Lowest |
33,144 |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 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+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline 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 |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Brookline and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 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% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Brookline School District | Rochester School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Spaulding High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 13.2 |
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.