Compare towns
Derry vs Lyndeborough vs Windham vs Sandown
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 oldest population (median age 50).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Windham | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,616Lowest |
16,038 |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Sandown 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,893±$721 27% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$7,133Lowest 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,801 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
31 minLowest 15% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Windham 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Windham School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Windham 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.