Compare towns
Derry vs Meredith 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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Salem has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Meredith | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
6,758Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest 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 |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
| Salem and Derry 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Meredith 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 |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Inter-Lakes High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
11.2 |
| 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.