Compare towns
Derry vs Ashby vs Keene
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 kids (19.9% under 18).
Ashby has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Ashby | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339 |
3,211Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Ashby 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% |
21.5%±4.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ashby and Keene 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% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23kHighest 18% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Derry and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 10% above U.S. |
$1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278Highest 133% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ashby and Keene 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | North Middlesex | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.