Compare towns
Salem vs Bow vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
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 | Bow | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
8,335Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Salem and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest 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+ | 38.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Bow and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% 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 | $6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #38 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Bow School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Bow High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
13.9Highest |
| 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.