Compare towns
Salem vs Derry vs Pelham
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 affordable homes ($432k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Derry | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
34,116Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Salem and Pelham 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% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Salem and Pelham 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% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Pelham 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 |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 9% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below 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 |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Derry 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Pinkerton Academy | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
13.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.