Compare towns
Salem vs Exeter 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 most homeowners (75.6%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
16,151Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Exeter and Salem 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kHighest 12% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Salem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Salem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Exeter High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.1 |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.