Compare towns
Derry vs Lyndeborough vs Salem vs Wolfeboro
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 most homeowners (92.4%).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Salem | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,616Lowest |
30,964 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
50±3.2 15% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below 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±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Salem and Derry 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 |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Lyndeborough 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 | — | #38 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Salem School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Salem High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 11.2 |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.