Compare towns
Derry vs Barre vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Barre has the most affordable homes ($210k median).
Atkinson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5%).
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 | Barre | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
8,412 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
42.2±6.6 8% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Barre are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$65,625±$7kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$210,400±$15kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,093±$58Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$5,192Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.4%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
17.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1947Lowest 33 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson 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 | #19 of 70 in VT | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Barre Unified Union School District #97 · Central Vermont Career Center | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Spaulding Union High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.

