Compare towns
Derry vs Exeter vs Milford vs Sullivan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Exeter | Milford | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,151 |
16,337 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Sullivan 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Exeter 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 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Exeter and Derry 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| Exeter and Milford 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Milford School District | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School | Milford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.1 |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 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.