Compare towns
Salem vs Sandgate 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 most expensive homes ($473k median).
Sandgate has the most people working from home (34.6%).
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 | Sandgate | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
435Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
55.7±5.4Highest 43% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±11.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sandgate 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.4Lowest 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±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$69,167±$19kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$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. |
$193,800±$31kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
— | $1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Salem and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$2,778Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Salem 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% |
9.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
34.6%±32.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandgate 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 | — | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | — | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 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.