Compare towns
Salem vs Marblehead 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%).
Marblehead has the most people working from home (34%).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
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 | Marblehead | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
20,413Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
49.1±2Highest 26% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Marblehead 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% |
22.3%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Marblehead and Derry 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% |
22.7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Marblehead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1Lowest 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. |
$182,132±$28kHighest 126% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$943,900±$31kHighest 184% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$1,764±$147Highest 25% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Marblehead and Salem 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. |
$8,309Highest 166% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.5%±8.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Marblehead 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% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1944Lowest 36 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 25% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
34%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #38 of 120 in NH | #47 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Marblehead | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Marblehead High | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2 |
10.7Lowest |
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.