What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).

Mansfield has the most expensive homes ($604k 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	Mansfield
People
Population	34,116Highest	23,931Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S.	41.4±1.3Highest 6% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Derry 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%	22.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22%
	Mansfield 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 U.S.: 17.2%	15.4%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Mansfield and Derry 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%	51.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	5.5%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and Mansfield 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 35% above U.S.	$125,273±$15kHighest 55% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Derry 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.	$603,500±$28kHighest 81% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S.	$1,803±$147Highest 28% above U.S.
	Mansfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.	$7,226Lowest 132% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	38.2%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derry and Mansfield 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%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	73.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1980Lowest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	33 minHighest 25% above U.S.
Work from home	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	20%±3.4Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Mansfield 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	#60 of 282 in MA
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	Mansfield
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	Mansfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Highest	11.1Lowest
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.