Compare towns

Concord vs Eliot vs Wells 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

Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).
Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureConcordEliotWellsDerry
People
Population
44,375Highest
7,146Lowest
11,713
34,116
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±1.3
5% above U.S.
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
53.6±3.8Highest
38% above U.S.
40.3±1.6Lowest
4% above U.S.
Wells and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±2.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
Derry and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.7%±1.5
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wells and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Derry and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,902±$5kLowest
5% above U.S.
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$88,024±$11k
9% above U.S.
$108,944±$7kHighest
35% above U.S.
Derry and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$350,900±$13kLowest
5% above U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
$432,000±$17k
30% above U.S.
Eliot and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,441±$43
about the U.S. average
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
$1,547±$138
9% above U.S.
Eliot and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,227
132% above U.S.
$4,549
46% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
$8,103Highest
160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±5.2
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±9
U.S.: 51.1%
Eliot and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
13% below U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
14.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Wells and Eliot 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 #89 of 120 in NH #19 of 133 in ME #22 of 133 in ME #60 of 120 in NH
School district Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District RSU 35/MSAD 35 Wells-Ogunquit CSD Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town Concord High School None in town Wells High School Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0
—
11.4Lowest
13.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.