Compare towns
Derry vs Londonderry 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 most kids (20.7% under 18).
Londonderry has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Londonderry | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
12,225Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
42.4±1 about the NH average |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Londonderry 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% |
16.5%±2 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Londonderry 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 NH: 40.6% |
46%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$119,571±$13kHighest 21% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Londonderry 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 |
$469,500±$23k 17% above NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Salem and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,952±$135Highest 31% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$7,568 14% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
60.6%±13.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Londonderry and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.4%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Londonderry and Salem 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 | #37 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | — | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.