Compare towns
Derry vs Dunbarton 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).
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Salem has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Dunbarton | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
3,097Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Dunbarton 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% |
19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Dunbarton 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% |
20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Salem 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 |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Dunbarton 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±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below 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 | $8,103 22% above NH |
$8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Dunbarton 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% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salem and Derry 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dunbarton 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.