Compare towns
Derry vs Bethlehem vs Sandown
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 most renters (29.8% rent).
Bethlehem has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Bethlehem | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
2,537Lowest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Bethlehem and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Sandown 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 |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
| Sandown 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 7% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
| Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Derry 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% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Sandown 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Profile Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
8.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.