Compare towns
Derry vs Epping vs Lyme vs Atkinson
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 renters (29.8% rent).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Epping | Lyme | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
7,430 |
1,710Lowest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Atkinson and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Lyme 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% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Lyme 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% |
37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| 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±$7k 10% above NH |
$104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
| Atkinson and Lyme 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 |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
| Lyme and Atkinson 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 |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Epping 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Epping School District | Lyme School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.