What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Lowell has the most affordable homes ($183k 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.

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

Measure	Derry	Lowell
People
Population	34,116Highest	1,070Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±1.6Highest 4% above U.S.	32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S.
	Derry and Lowell 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%	30.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	15.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derry and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and Lowell 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.	$57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S.	$183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S.	$945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.	$2,810Lowest 10% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derry and Lowell 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%	9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	55 minHighest 109% above U.S.
Work from home	16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#60 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	Lowell School District
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9	—
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.