Compare towns
Derry vs Dover vs Rye 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).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Atkinson has the most homeowners (92.6%).
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.
| Measure | Derry | Dover | Rye | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
33,364 |
5,611Lowest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Atkinson and Rye 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%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 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±$7k 10% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| Atkinson and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Rye 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Atkinson 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dover School District | Rye School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Dover Senior High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.