Compare towns
Derry vs Brookline vs Sullivan
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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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.
| Measure | Derry | Brookline | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
5,736 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Brookline 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% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline 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% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Derry 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 |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$106,667±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| Brookline 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Brookline School District | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | 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.