What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has the most homeowners (70.2%).

Lawrence has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derry	Lawrence
People
Population	34,116Lowest	88,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±1.6Highest 4% above U.S.	32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%	26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	10.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S.	$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S.	$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above U.S.
	Derry and Lawrence are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S.	$1,662±$50Highest 18% above U.S.
	Lawrence and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.	$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Lawrence and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	23 minLowest 13% below U.S.
Work from home	16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	6.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#60 of 120 in NH	#278 of 282 in MA
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	Lawrence
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	Lawrence High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Highest	13.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.