Compare towns
Derry vs Salem vs Rochester vs Goffstown
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).
Salem has the most expensive homes ($473k median).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Goffstown has the most homeowners (82.7%).
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 | Salem | Rochester | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
30,964 |
33,144 |
18,513Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
41.3±3.1 5% below 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% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Goffstown 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% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$113,958±$12kHighest 15% above NH |
| Goffstown 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 |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$377,400±$20k 6% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below 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 |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown 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% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Salem School District | Rochester School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Salem High School | Spaulding High School | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
13.2 |
12.6 |
| 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.