Compare towns
Derry vs Rochester vs Derry 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).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
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 | Rochester | Derry | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
33,144 |
21,339Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.9% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
41±3 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Derry 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% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Salem 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% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.7% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry 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 10% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$91,673±$11k 7% 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±$17k 7% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$391,200±$23k about the NH average |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,549±$137 4% above 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 |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$7,278 9% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 10% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Rochester School District | — | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Spaulding High School | — | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
13.2 |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.