What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).

Douglas has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).

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	Douglas
People
Population	34,116Highest	9,207Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S.	44±2.6Highest 13% above U.S.
	Douglas and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	21.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Douglas and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Douglas and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S.	$152,267±$10kHighest 89% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S.	$470,600±$29kHighest 41% above U.S.
	Douglas and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,503±$697Lowest 6% above U.S.
	Derry and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.	$6,338Lowest 103% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	33.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derry and Douglas are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	83.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	34 minHighest 28% above U.S.
Work from home	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Douglas 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	#177 of 282 in MA
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	Douglas
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	Douglas High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Highest	7.2Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.