Compare towns
Derry vs Fairfax vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Fairfax has grown the fastest since 2010 (+17%).
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 | Fairfax | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
5,226Lowest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+17%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
38.8±3.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Fairfax 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$128,963±$29k 60% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Fairfax 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. |
$378,200±$22kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,080±$131Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,140±$32 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$5,497Lowest 76% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±33.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1994Highest 14 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Fairfax and Atkinson 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 | #36 of 70 in VT | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Fairfax School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Bellows Free Academy Middle/High School (Fairfax) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
9.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.