Compare towns
Salem vs Durham 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
15,080Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Salem and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Oyster River High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.3 |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.