Compare towns
Derry vs Amherst 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
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Keene 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 | Amherst | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
11,861Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Keene 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Souhegan Coop High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
12.3 |
| 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.