Compare towns
Salem vs Standish 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%).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Standish | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
10,662Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8 4% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Salem and Standish 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% |
16.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Standish 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% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Standish 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% |
36%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,490±$9kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15kLowest 30% above 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. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138 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. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish 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% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Bonny Eagle High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.5 |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.