Compare towns
Dunbarton vs Derry vs Salem
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dunbarton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9%).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Salem has the most people working from home (16.3%).
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 | Dunbarton | Derry | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,097Lowest |
21,339 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.4%±4.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Dunbarton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 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 | $124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
$391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
$1,549±$137 4% above NH |
$1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
| Salem and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,233Highest 23% above NH |
$7,278 9% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±60.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salem and Derry 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 | #33 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dunbarton School District | — | Salem School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.