Compare towns
Salem vs Derry vs Auburn
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).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Derry | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Highest |
21,339 |
6,119Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
44.3±5.9 about the NH average |
| Salem and Auburn 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% |
19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Auburn 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% |
14.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% NH: 40.6% |
36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,549±$137Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
| Auburn and Salem 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 |
$7,278 9% above NH |
$8,092Highest 21% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | — | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | — | None in town |
| 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.