Compare towns
Derry vs Hampstead vs Jaffrey
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 renters (29.8% rent).
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Hampstead | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
9,102 |
5,448Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
42.9±3.9 about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Jaffrey 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% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Hampstead 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 10% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH |
| Hampstead 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 |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
| Derry and Hampstead 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 |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,196Lowest 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hampstead School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Lowest |
— | 21.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.