Compare towns
Derry vs Gorham vs Ogunquit 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
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
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 | Gorham | Ogunquit | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
18,300 |
1,379Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Highest 19% above U.S. |
— | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #24 of 133 in ME | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Gorham Public Schools | — | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Gorham High School | — | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.9 |
— | 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.