Compare towns
Derry vs Lyndeborough vs Bow 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).
Lyndeborough has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Bow 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 | Lyndeborough | Bow | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,616Lowest |
8,335 |
7,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
50±3.2 15% above NH |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 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 |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
| Bow 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±$17k 7% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Atkinson and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Derry and Bow 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 |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Atkinson 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Bow School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 12.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.