What stands out worked out from the figures below

Benson has the most affordable homes ($242k median).

Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Benson	Derry
People
Population	784Lowest	34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S.	40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S.
Kids under 18	16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Derry and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Benson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,625±$8kLowest about the U.S. average	$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$242,000±$26kLowest 27% below U.S.	$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,113±$170Lowest 21% below U.S.	$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,125Lowest 32% above U.S.	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Benson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Benson 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	—	#60 of 120 in NH
School district	Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town	None in town	Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.