Compare towns
Derry vs Hingham 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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Salem has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Hingham | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
24,283Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Hingham 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hingham 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% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15kHighest 121% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603Highest 74% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 160% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Derry 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest 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 | #14 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hingham | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Hingham High | 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 |
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.