What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has the most expensive homes ($391k median).

Grafton has the most homeowners (83.1%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derry	Grafton
People
Population	21,339Highest	1,354Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	+3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41±3Lowest 5% below NH	43.1±10.6Highest about the NH average
	Grafton 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 NH: 18.2%	21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	Grafton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1%	21%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	36.7%Highest NH: 40.6%	24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6%	4.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Derry and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$91,673±$11kHighest 7% below NH	$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH
	Derry and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$391,200±$23kHighest about the NH average	$267,300±$23kLowest 34% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH	$1,243±$163Lowest 17% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$7,278Highest 9% above NH	$5,239Lowest 21% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2%	32.1%±34.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Derry and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	7.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	83.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	29 minLowest 10% above NH	43 minHighest 62% above NH
Work from home	14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.9%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Grafton and Derry 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	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.