Compare towns
Alton vs Derry vs Newton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
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 | Alton | Derry | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,994 |
34,116Highest |
4,836Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
| Alton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
| Newton and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37kLowest 7% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$459,500±$18kHighest 14% above NH |
| Newton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
| Newton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$8,124Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
30 minLowest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newton 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.