Compare towns
Derry vs Exeter vs Stratham 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Exeter | Stratham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,151 |
7,754Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below 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%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Derry 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.1 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.