Compare towns

Derry vs Derry vs Durham vs Windham

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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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.

MeasureDerryDerryDurhamWindham
People
Population
21,339
34,116Highest
15,080Lowest
16,038
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.9%
NH: +4.6%
+3.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.8%
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41±3
5% below NH
40.3±1.6
7% below NH
20.8±0.3Lowest
52% below NH
41.1±2.9Highest
5% below NH
Windham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±2.8
NH: 18.2%
20.7%±2.1
NH: 18.2%
10.3%±2.1Lowest
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
14.8%±2
NH: 20.1%
15.2%±1.6
NH: 20.1%
11.5%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
Windham 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
NH: 40.6%
37.4%
NH: 40.6%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
62.7%
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%
3.8%±1.8Lowest
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
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$391,200±$23kLowest
about the NH average
$432,000±$17k
7% above NH
$504,300±$41k
25% above NH
$723,300±$50kHighest
80% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,549±$137
4% above NH
$1,547±$138
4% above NH
$1,429±$143Lowest
4% below NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,278Lowest
9% above NH
$8,103
22% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% 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%
52.2%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
Durham and Derry 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%
NH: 7.2%
15.1%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
59.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
70.2%
NH: 72.8%
64.4%
NH: 72.8%
93.9%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
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 min
10% above NH
31 minHighest
16% above NH
19 minLowest
27% below NH
31 min
15% 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%
21.9%±4.4Highest
NH: 16.8%
Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH
School district — Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District Oyster River Coop School District Windham School District
High school in town — Pinkerton Academy Oyster River High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
13.9Highest
12.3Lowest
12.8
On TownTapestry
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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.