Compare towns
Salem vs Windham vs Methuen 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 oldest population (median age 44.6).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
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 | Windham | Methuen | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 30,964 |
16,038Lowest |
53,475Highest |
34,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.7Highest 15% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
| Salem and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Salem and Methuen 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% |
62.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Derry 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,300±$16k 42% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$146 15% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91 24% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,992 124% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±9.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.3%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Salem School District | Windham School District | Methuen | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Salem High School | Windham High School | Methuen High | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
12.8 |
13.1 |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.