Compare towns
Derry vs Durham vs Newfields vs Sandown
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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Newfields | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,080 |
2,023Lowest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
44.1±1.8Highest about the NH average |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Newfields and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Derry and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,801 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Sandown 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Newfields 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 | — | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.3Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.