Compare towns
Derry vs Upton vs Georgetown vs Salem
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 most affordable homes ($432k median).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Georgetown has the most expensive homes ($651k median).
Salem has the shortest commute (29 min average).
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 | Upton | Georgetown | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
8,189Lowest |
8,474 |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.8±3.5 10% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% 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% |
23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Georgetown and Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 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% |
53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
56.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$151,595±$23k 88% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Upton and Georgetown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$651,200±$23kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$2,223±$506Highest 57% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Georgetown and Salem 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$7,272 133% above U.S. |
$6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.7%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Georgetown and Upton 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% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
34 min 27% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Georgetown 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #140 of 282 in MA | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Georgetown | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Blackstone Valley | Georgetown High School | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.2 |
9.3Lowest |
11.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.