What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Lenox has the oldest population (median age 60.1).

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.

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

Measure	Derry	Lenox
People
Population	34,116Highest	5,079Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S.	60.1±4.3Highest 54% above U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	13.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	40.1%±7.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	52.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and Lenox 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.	$106,080±$31kLowest 31% above U.S.
	Derry and Lenox 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.	$466,700±$43kHighest 40% above U.S.
	Lenox and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,091±$238Lowest 23% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.	$5,299Lowest 70% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.2%±18.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derry and Lenox 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%	8.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	71.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.
Work from home	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	18.3%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Lenox 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	#90 of 282 in MA
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	Lenox
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	Lenox Memorial High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Highest	7.6Lowest
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.