Compare towns
Alna vs Derry vs Ogunquit vs Mercer
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Mercer has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Alna | Derry | Ogunquit | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 818 |
34,116Highest |
1,379 |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5 5% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 32.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.9%±5.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Ogunquit are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$16k 15% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$71,107±$2kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,400±$55k 10% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$238,500±$32kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$176Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
— | $1,422±$249 about the U.S. average |
| Derry and Mercer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,667 18% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$1,970Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
18.5%±74 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #60 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | — |
| High school in town | — | Pinkerton Academy | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— | — |
| 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.