Compare towns
Derry vs Pembroke vs Salem vs Sandown
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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
7,438 |
30,964 |
6,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
40.8±3.7 6% 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% |
22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Sandown 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest 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% |
34.1% 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% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Sandown 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±$9k 12% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Derry 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Pembroke 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 | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Pembroke School District | Salem School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Pembroke Academy | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
13.1 |
11.2Lowest |
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| 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.