Compare towns
Derry vs Keene vs Exeter vs Concord
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 kids (20.7% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Keene | Exeter | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116 |
22,939 |
16,151Lowest |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
| Exeter 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
| Exeter and Derry 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 |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,227 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Keene High School | Exeter High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.3 |
12.1Lowest |
13.0 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.