Compare towns
Derry vs Salem vs Springfield
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%).
Springfield has the most homeowners (90.7%).
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 | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
30,964 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
| Springfield and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Springfield 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% |
38.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 10% above NH |
$110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$100,893±$19kLowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% 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 |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield and Salem 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 | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Salem High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
— |
| 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.