What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Belmont has the most affordable homes ($316k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derry	Belmont
People
Population	34,116Highest	7,392Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH	47.2±3.5Highest 9% above NH
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%	18.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Derry and Belmont 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%	22.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6%	3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
	Derry and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH	$69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH	$316,300±$31kLowest 21% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH	$996±$129Lowest 33% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,103Highest 22% above NH	$5,585Lowest 16% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2%	46.8%±10.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Derry and Belmont 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%	10.3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983 4 yrs newer than NH	1983 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above NH	25 minLowest 6% below NH
Work from home	16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8%	9.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Derry and Belmont 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	#92 of 120 in NH
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	Shaker Regional School District
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	Belmont High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.