Compare towns
Derry vs Pembroke vs Salem vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Pembroke | Salem | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
7,438Lowest |
30,964 |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Salem and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Milford 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% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 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 |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| 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 7% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Milford and Salem 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 |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Pembroke School District | Salem School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Pembroke Academy | Salem High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
13.1 |
11.2 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.