Compare towns
Derry vs Gray vs South Berwick
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).
Gray has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.5%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% 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 | Gray | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
8,429 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Gray and Derry 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% |
19%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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% |
19.3%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Gray and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Derry and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$363,700±$20kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Derry and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,371±$89Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick 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. |
$3,683Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 min 8% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| South Berwick 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Gray-New Gloucester High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.5Lowest |
13.0 |
| 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.