Compare towns
Derry vs Durham vs Milford 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Milford | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,080Lowest |
16,337 |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Derry 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% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford 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% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest 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% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Milford 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 |
$7,522 13% 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% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest 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% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 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 |
27 min about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Milford School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Oyster River High School | Milford High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.3 |
10.7Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.