Compare towns
Derry vs Wilder vs Sandown 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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Salem has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Wilder | Sandown | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
3,087Lowest |
6,628 |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.8±3.7 5% above U.S. |
44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
| Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Derry 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$135,040±$25kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$110,490±$9k 37% above U.S. |
| Sandown and Salem 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$483,400±$44kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
| Sandown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,893±$721Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
| Sandown 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$8,801Highest 182% above U.S. |
$6,992 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.1%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sandown 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
29 min 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±13.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandown 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 | — | #71 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District | 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 Our Story | 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.