Compare towns
Derry vs Walden 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 kids (20.7% under 18).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k median).
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
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 | Walden | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,037Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Walden 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walden 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Lowest 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±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9kHighest 37% 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. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,625±$146Highest 15% above 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 | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden 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 | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Salem High School |
| 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.