Compare towns
Salem vs Upton vs Derry vs Atkinson
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 oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Upton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Upton | Derry | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
8,189 |
34,116Highest |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7 15% above U.S. |
46.4±4.8 19% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Upton 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% |
20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Upton 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% |
53.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Atkinson 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. |
$155,508±$33kHighest 93% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32k 81% above U.S. |
| Upton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$576,700±$41kHighest 73% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Upton and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146Highest 15% above U.S. |
$948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32 19% below 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. |
$8,376Highest 169% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
$6,918Lowest 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Upton 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Upton and Atkinson 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 | #46 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Blackstone Valley | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
11.2Lowest |
13.9Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.