Compare towns
Salem vs Salisbury vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Salem has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.6%).
Salisbury has the most people working from home (23.3%).
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 | Salisbury | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
1,609Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 3% above NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Salisbury 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 NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 12% above NH |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Salisbury 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±$16kHighest 18% above NH |
$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 9% above NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Salisbury and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 5% above NH |
$5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.