Compare towns
Derry vs Dracut vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Dracut | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
32,574 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut 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% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Atkinson 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. |
$114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Dracut 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% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dracut | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Dracut Senior High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.9Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.