Compare towns
Derry vs Durham vs Lyndeborough vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Lyndeborough has the most homeowners (92.4%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Lyndeborough | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
10,681 |
1,616Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$116,964±$17kHighest 18% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
| Lyndeborough and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Milford 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyndeborough 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | — | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | — | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.