Compare towns
Derry vs Dover vs Nashua
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 homeowners (70.2%).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Nashua has the most affordable homes ($404k 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 | Dover | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116 |
33,364Lowest |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Highest 7% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40±1.3 8% below NH |
| Derry and Nashua 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% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.9%±1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nashua and Dover 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 NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Dover 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±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$96,326±$5k about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average |
| Dover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH |
| Nashua and Dover 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,799Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Dover 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Nashua 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dover School District | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Dover Senior High School | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.7Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.