Compare towns
Atkinson vs Pepperell 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Pepperell | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
11,663 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Pepperell 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%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3Lowest 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. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Pepperell 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. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Pepperell 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. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Derry and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,918 122% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | North Middlesex | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.