Compare towns
Salem vs Hull 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Hull has the most expensive homes ($646k median).
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 | Hull | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
10,138Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest 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. |
$115,485±$14kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Hull 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 42% above U.S. |
$646,000±$38kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$2,081±$187Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$6,089Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hull and Derry 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hull 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 | #66 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Hull | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Hull High | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
8.8Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.