Compare towns
Derry vs Windham vs Laconia
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 renters (40.9% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Windham | Laconia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
16,038Lowest |
17,085 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Laconia and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11k 7% below NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$340,300±$16kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137 4% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278 9% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2 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% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #105 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Windham School District | Laconia School District |
| High school in town | — | Windham High School | Laconia High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
10.0Lowest |
| 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.