Compare towns
Derry vs Mount Tabor vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Mount Tabor has the oldest population (median age 57.8).
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 | Mount Tabor | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
304Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
57.8±10.6Highest 49% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Mount Tabor 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 U.S.: 22% |
10.2%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
42.4%±18.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
— | $110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| 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±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$420,500±$76kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,143±$367Highest 52% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$5,233Lowest 68% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
46 minHighest 72% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Derry 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 |
| 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 History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.