Compare towns
Derry vs Campton 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).
Campton has the most people working from home (28.3%).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Campton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
3,407Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
49.2±3.7Highest 14% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Campton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±6.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±10.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Campton 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
51.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Campton 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 10% above NH |
$118,870±$21kHighest 20% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Campton 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 |
$356,300±$38kLowest 11% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 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 |
$6,028Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
72.6%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Campton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
28.3%±10.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Campton 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 | #68 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Campton 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 |
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.