Compare towns
Derry vs Lyndeborough vs Newfields 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).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Newfields | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,616Lowest |
2,023 |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
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%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Derry 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 10% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Newfields and Salem 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 |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | — | — | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Newfields School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | 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.