Compare towns
Derry vs Laconia vs Keene
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 highest household income ($92k).
Laconia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
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 | Laconia | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339 |
17,085Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% below NH |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Laconia and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Laconia 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% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia 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% NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kHighest 7% below NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$78,445±$8k 21% below NH |
| Derry and Keene 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 |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278Highest 9% above NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Laconia 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% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
17 min 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene 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 | #105 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Laconia School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Laconia High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.0Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.