Compare towns
Derry vs Amherst vs Pembroke
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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Pembroke has the shortest commute (25 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 | Pembroke |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
11,861 |
7,438Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
| Amherst and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Amherst 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% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$371,500±$20kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% 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 |
$7,589Lowest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Pembroke 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Pembroke School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Souhegan Coop High School | Pembroke Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
13.1 |
| 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.