Compare towns
Derry vs Amherst vs Rye vs Concord
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 highest household income ($153k).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Concord has the shortest commute (23 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 | Rye | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116 |
11,861 |
5,611Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Concord 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 |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
| Amherst and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,441±$43Lowest 3% below NH |
| Rye and Derry 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rye 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1972 7 yrs 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 |
29 min 8% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Rye 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Rye School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
— | 13.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.