Compare towns
Derry vs Dedham vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Dedham | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
25,237 |
16,337Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6Highest 15% above U.S. |
36.8±2.5Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Milford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Dedham 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. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$97,768±$14kLowest 21% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$398,800±$20kLowest 20% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,661±$126 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$7,522Lowest 141% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.6%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham 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% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dedham 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 | #119 of 282 in MA | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | — | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.