Compare towns

Amherst vs Lyndeborough vs Derry

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
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.

MeasureAmherstLyndeboroughDerry
People
Population
11,861
1,616Lowest
34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+1.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+3.6%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45.9±3.5
6% above NH
50±3.2Highest
15% above NH
40.3±1.6Lowest
7% below NH
Lyndeborough and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.9%±5.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
20.7%±2.1
NH: 18.2%
Amherst and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.2%±3
NH: 20.1%
22.6%±1.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Lyndeborough and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
65.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
40.1%
NH: 40.6%
37.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.5Highest
NH: 6%
Derry and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,196±$10kHighest
55% above NH
$116,964±$17k
18% above NH
$108,944±$7kLowest
10% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$537,600±$30kHighest
34% above NH
$390,900±$26kLowest
about the NH average
$432,000±$17k
7% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,462±$256Lowest
about the NH average
$1,482±$457
about the NH average
$1,547±$138Highest
4% above NH
Derry and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,773Highest
47% above NH
$7,133Lowest
7% above NH
$8,103
22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
48.9%±90
NH: 48.2%
51.6%±9Highest
NH: 48.2%
Derry and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%
NH: 72.8%
92.4%Highest
NH: 72.8%
70.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
1981
2 yrs newer than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 min
22% above NH
39 minHighest
46% above NH
31 minLowest
16% above NH
Work from home
32.4%±5.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
16.7%±3.5
NH: 16.8%
16%±2.8Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #20 of 120 in NH — #60 of 120 in NH
School district Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town Souhegan Coop High School None in town Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
—
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.