Compare towns
Derry vs Exeter 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Sandown has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Newfields | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,151 |
2,023Lowest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Exeter and Newfields 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%±2.7Lowest 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%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above 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 |
$8,814 32% 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% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Exeter 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%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 |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.