Compare towns
Salem vs Hingham vs Windham 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 shortest commute (29 min average).
Hingham has the most expensive homes ($1134k median).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
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 | Hingham | Windham | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
24,283 |
16,038Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
48.4±2.4Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Hingham 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.4%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
76.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Salem 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 37% above U.S. |
$178,390±$15k 121% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hingham 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. |
$1,134,200±$47kHighest 241% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50k 117% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$2,465±$603 74% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Windham and Hingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992Lowest 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.3%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hingham and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #14 of 282 in MA | #13 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Hingham | Windham School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Hingham High | Windham High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.9 |
12.8 |
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.