Compare towns
Atkinson vs Derry vs Northfield
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Atkinson | Derry | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267 |
34,116Highest |
4,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$92,917±$15kLowest 6% 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 |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32 24% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 4% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest 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% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest 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 | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
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| 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.