What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).

Acton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).

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	Acton
People
Population	34,116Highest	2,721Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S.	52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and Acton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S.	$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S.	$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138 9% above U.S.	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.	$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Acton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	40 minHighest 53% above U.S.
Work from home	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Acton 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	#43 of 133 in ME
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	Acton Public Schools
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.