Compare towns

Atkinson vs Derry vs Keene

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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.

MeasureAtkinsonDerryKeene
People
Population
7,267Lowest
34,116Highest
22,939
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+3.6%
NH: +4.6%
-1.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
57.1±2.8Highest
32% above NH
40.3±1.6
7% below NH
37.6±2.3Lowest
13% below NH
Kids under 18
14.1%±3.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
20.7%±2.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
27.4%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
19.5%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.7%
NH: 40.6%
37.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
44.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.8%±4Lowest
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.5
NH: 6%
13.8%±1.4Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$146,380±$32kHighest
48% above NH
$108,944±$7k
10% above NH
$78,445±$8kLowest
21% below NH
Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$555,200±$65kHighest
38% above NH
$432,000±$17k
7% above NH
$252,500±$12kLowest
37% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,140±$32Lowest
24% below NH
$1,547±$138Highest
4% above NH
$1,342±$68
10% below NH
Derry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,918
4% above NH
$8,103Highest
22% above NH
$6,812Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.5%±39.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
51.6%±9
NH: 48.2%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.8%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
10.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
70.2%
NH: 72.8%
55.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1980
1 yr newer than NH
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
1961Lowest
18 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
6% above NH
31 minHighest
16% above NH
17 minLowest
36% below NH
Work from home
21.1%±6.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
16%±2.8
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Atkinson 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 #32 of 120 in NH #60 of 120 in NH #81 of 120 in NH
School district Timberlane Regional School District Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District Keene School District
High school in town None in town Pinkerton Academy Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.9Highest
12.3Lowest
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.