Compare towns
Derry vs Durham vs Atkinson vs Windham
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 affordable homes ($432k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Atkinson | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,080 |
7,267Lowest |
16,038 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Windham and Atkinson 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Oyster River High School | None in town | Windham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— | 12.8 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.