Compare towns
Derry vs Lyndeborough vs Milford 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
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Milford has the most renters (40.6% rent).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k 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 | Lyndeborough | Milford | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,616Lowest |
8,956 |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
36.7±3.7Lowest 15% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Lyndeborough 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% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest 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 |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$78,684±$11kLowest 21% below NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Lyndeborough 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±$17k 7% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$357,800±$16kLowest 11% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$1,557±$120 4% above NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$6,978Lowest 5% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyndeborough 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 | — | #55 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | — | 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 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.