Compare towns
Derry vs Salem vs Upton
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 the shortest commute (29 min average).
Upton has the highest household income ($156k).
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 | Upton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
30,964 |
8,189Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Upton 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% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Upton 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest 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±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Salem and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 160% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Upton and Derry 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%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 min 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton 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 | #46 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Salem School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Salem High School | Blackstone Valley |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.2Lowest |
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.