Compare towns
Derry vs Hampstead vs Wolfeboro 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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Hampstead | Wolfeboro | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
9,102 |
6,571Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Hampstead 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±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Hampstead 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 |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 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 |
30 min 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hampstead School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.