Compare towns
Derry vs Salem vs Sharon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Sharon has the most affordable homes ($347k 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 | Salem | Sharon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
30,964 |
1,577Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Sharon and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 35% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,386±$155Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Salem 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% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Salem School District | Sharon School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Salem High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.