Compare towns
Derry vs Meredith 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 most kids (19.9% under 18).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Meredith | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339 |
6,758Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kHighest 7% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Derry and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k about the NH average |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278Highest 9% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Meredith 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% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.