Compare towns
Salem vs Bellows Falls vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
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 | Salem | Bellows Falls | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
2,891Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7 6% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Salem and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% 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 | $473,300±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% 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 | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | — | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | — | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | — | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 13.9Highest |
| 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.