Compare towns
Derry vs Salem vs Somersworth
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Somersworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
30,964 |
12,111Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
| Salem and Derry 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%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Somersworth 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% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Somersworth 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 |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below 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 |
$473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH 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 22% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest 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 | #117 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Salem School District | Somersworth School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Salem High School | Somersworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.