Compare towns
Derry vs Lancaster 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 affordable homes ($432k median).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Lancaster | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
8,606Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
| Salem and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Lancaster 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% |
19.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Salem 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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 30% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Derry 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% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest 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 | #145 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Nashoba | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 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.