Compare towns
Londonderry vs Salem vs Bow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Londonderry has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Salem has the most renters (24.4% rent).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Londonderry | Salem | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 26,685 |
30,964Highest |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±0.9 about the NH average |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
| Salem and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.6%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% NH: 40.6% |
38.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±1 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Bow and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $132,556±$14k 34% above NH |
$110,490±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $505,200±$20k 26% above NH |
$473,300±$16kLowest 18% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Bow and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,803±$154Highest 21% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
| Londonderry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,069 21% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±7.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Londonderry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Londonderry and Bow 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 | #37 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Londonderry School District | Salem School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Londonderry Senior High School | Salem High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.0 |
11.2Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| 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.