Compare towns
Derry vs Hampstead vs Lunenburg
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).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).
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 | Lunenburg |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
9,102Lowest |
11,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.2±2.1 11% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Lunenburg 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% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.9%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Lunenburg 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% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7kLowest 35% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$112,828±$11kHighest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$463,900±$24k 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Lunenburg 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. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Lunenburg and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 160% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,401Lowest 105% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±13.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Lunenburg 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
30 minLowest 14% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 282 in MA |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hampstead School District | Lunenburg |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Lunenburg High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 12.4Lowest |
| 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.