Compare towns
Derry vs Acton 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
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.6%).
Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).
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 | Derry | Acton | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Lowest |
24,155 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% above U.S. |
44.5±0.8Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Acton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Acton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Acton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
79.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$158,230±$14kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$807,300±$20kHighest 143% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137 10% above U.S. |
$1,986±$155Highest 41% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278Lowest 133% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,103 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.7%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
35.9%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #13 of 282 in MA | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Acton-Boxborough | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | — | Acton-Boxborough Regional High | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.5Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.