Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Derry vs Holderness
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Center Harbor | Derry | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
34,116Highest |
1,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
55.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
| Derry and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Derry and Holderness 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 | — | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | — | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— |
| 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.