Compare towns
Derry vs Hollis vs Sandown vs Atkinson
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).
Hollis has the most expensive homes ($676k median).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Hollis | Sandown | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
8,603 |
6,628Lowest |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
49.4±5 14% above NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Atkinson and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Hollis 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% |
57.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| 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±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
| Hollis and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,598±$302 7% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Sandown and Hollis 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,801 32% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
1.9% NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis and Sandown 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Hollis-Brookline High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.8Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.