Compare towns
Salem vs Fall River vs Everett vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
Fall River has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Everett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17.8%).
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 | Fall River | Everett | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964Lowest |
94,082Highest |
50,045 |
34,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+17.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
35.2±1.5Lowest 10% below U.S. |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
| 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%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Everett 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Everett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$85,218±$7k 6% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
| Salem and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$610,000±$23kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$2,076±$69Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$3,953Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,880 56% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Everett and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
37.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1945 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Salem and Derry 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #264 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Everett | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | B M C Durfee High | Everett High | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
11.3 |
12.1 |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.