Compare towns
Derry vs Durham vs Lee 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 affordable homes ($432k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lee | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,080 |
4,576Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Lee 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Lee and Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Durham and Lee 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Oyster River High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.3 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 10 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.