Compare towns
Derry vs Amherst vs Atkinson
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 (29.8% rent).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Amherst | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
11,861 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
| Amherst and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Atkinson and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Derry and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Atkinson 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| 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.