Compare towns
Cornish vs Surry vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cornish has the oldest population (median age 54).
Surry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12%).
Derry has the most expensive homes ($432k 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 | Cornish | Surry | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,816 |
1,052Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Cornish and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Surry and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$110,125±$25kHighest 11% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Surry and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Surry and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Cornish School District | — | 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 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.