Compare towns
Derry vs Dover vs Exeter 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).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Salem has the most homeowners (75.6%).
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 | Dover | Exeter | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
33,364 |
16,151Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Exeter 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% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Exeter 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover 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 |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
| Salem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Salem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$8,249 24% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Dover Senior High School | Exeter High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.7 |
12.1 |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.