Compare towns
Derry vs Dover vs Swanzey
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%).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
33,364 |
7,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Swanzey 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% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest 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±$7k 4% below NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| 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±$138 4% above NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
| Dover 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Derry 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% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dover School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Dover Senior High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| 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.