Compare towns
Durham vs Londonderry 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Londonderry has the most people working from home (20.4%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Londonderry | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Lowest |
12,225 |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
42.4±1 about the NH average |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Londonderry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±2 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.7 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$119,571±$13kHighest 21% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
| Londonderry and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$469,500±$23kLowest 17% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Durham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,952±$135Highest 31% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,568 14% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
60.6%±13.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Londonderry and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.4%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Londonderry 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #37 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Salem School District |
| High school 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.