Compare towns
Derry vs Everett vs Lowell vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
Lowell has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Everett | Lowell | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116 |
50,045 |
118,368Highest |
30,964Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Salem and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #264 of 282 in MA | #255 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Everett | Lowell | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Everett High | Lowell High | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9 |
12.1 |
14.8Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.