Compare towns
Derry vs Derry vs Durham vs Sandown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Derry | Durham | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 21,339 |
34,116Highest |
15,080 |
6,628Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3Highest 5% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Derry and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Derry 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% NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
| Sandown and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
| Durham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137 4% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278Lowest 9% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,801 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Durham 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Pinkerton Academy | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.