What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has the most homeowners (70.2%).

Malden has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.5%).

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	Malden
People
Population	34,116Lowest	65,906Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+11.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±1.6Highest 4% above U.S.	35.8±1Lowest 8% below U.S.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Derry and Malden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2%	13%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Derry and Malden 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 U.S.: 35.7%	45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	9.1%±1.1Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S.	$100,606±$6kLowest 25% above U.S.
	Derry and Malden 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.	$633,500±$26kHighest 90% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S.	$2,204±$62Highest 56% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.	$4,995Lowest 60% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.2%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derry and Malden 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%	11.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	41.3%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 minLowest 17% above U.S.	34 minHighest 30% above U.S.
Work from home	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Malden 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	#184 of 282 in MA
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	Malden
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	Malden High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Lowest	16.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.