Compare towns
Derry vs Ogunquit vs Brewer 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
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k 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 | Ogunquit | Brewer | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,379Lowest |
9,652 |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Brewer 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Brewer 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±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$66,613±$9kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit 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 30% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
— | $1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
| 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 160% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±13.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brewer and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 133 in ME | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | Brewer Public Schools | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | — | Brewer High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9 |
— | 14.0Highest |
11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.