Compare towns
Derry vs Hampstead vs Needham
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 affordable homes ($432k median).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
9,102Lowest |
32,459 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Needham 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%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Needham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Lowest 160% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Derry 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hampstead School District | Needham |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 11.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.