Compare towns
Derry vs Bridgewater vs Atkinson
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 kids (20.7% under 18).
Bridgewater has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.1%).
Atkinson has the highest household income ($146k).
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 | Bridgewater | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,169Lowest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
58.3±6.3Highest 35% above NH |
57.1±2.8 32% above NH |
| Bridgewater and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bridgewater and Atkinson 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% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| 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 10% above NH |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| 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 7% above NH |
$398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
$1,140±$32 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
79.7% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
28 minLowest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Newfound Area School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9 |
— | — |
| 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.