Compare towns
Derry vs Hollis vs Salem vs Rochester
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).
Hollis has the most people working from home (29%).
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Hollis | Salem | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
8,603Lowest |
30,964 |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Hollis 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% |
21%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Hollis 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% |
23.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hollis and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| 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±$7k 10% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Salem and Hollis 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #8 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Salem School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Hollis-Brookline High School | Salem High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.8 |
11.2Lowest |
13.2 |
| 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.