Compare towns
Derry vs Fall River vs Lawrence 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
Fall River has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).
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 | Fall River | Lawrence | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116 |
94,082Highest |
88,736 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2 about the U.S. average |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 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±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$60,433±$3k 25% below U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson 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. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$415,200±$23k 25% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27 18% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lawrence and Derry 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. |
$3,953 27% above U.S. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Lawrence 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
17.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1950 30 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson 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 | #262 of 282 in MA | #278 of 282 in MA | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Lawrence | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | B M C Durfee High | Lawrence High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.3Lowest |
13.6 |
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| 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.