Compare towns
Derry vs Epping vs Methuen vs Concord
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).
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 | Methuen | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116 |
7,430Lowest |
53,475Highest |
44,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
45.1±3.5Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.7±1.3 5% above U.S. |
| Epping and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Epping and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Derry 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 35% above U.S. |
$104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$84,902±$5kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$350,900±$13kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,742±$576 23% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,441±$43Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Methuen and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$6,936 122% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$7,227 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
24%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Epping School District | Methuen | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Epping High School | Methuen High | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
9.3Lowest |
13.1 |
13.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.