Compare towns
Salem vs Townsend 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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Townsend | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 30,964 |
9,100Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Salem and Townsend 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%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Townsend 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% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Townsend 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. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 42% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Townsend 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 10% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | North Middlesex | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | North Middlesex Regional | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
13.1 |
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.