Compare towns
Derry vs Mapleton vs Alton
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 renters (40.9% rent).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Mapleton | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
1,884Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
53.7±3.2Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Derry 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Alton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$113,715±$19kHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Alton and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k 18% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$430,400±$37kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Alton and Derry 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278Highest 133% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$4,183 34% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.7%±27.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Alton 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.1%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derry and Alton 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 | — | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.