Compare towns
Salem vs Lowell 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).
Lowell has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.5%).
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 | Lowell | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964Lowest |
118,368Highest |
34,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% 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% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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±$16kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Lowell | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Lowell High | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
14.8Highest |
13.9 |
| 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.