Compare towns
Atkinson vs Dracut vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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.
| Measure | Atkinson | Dracut | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
32,574 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 81% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Dracut | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dracut Senior High | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.