Compare towns
Derry vs Mason vs Wilton
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 expensive homes ($432k median).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Wilton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6%).
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 | Mason | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,451Lowest |
3,960 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
46.8±5.2Highest 8% above NH |
| Wilton and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason 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% |
15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
22%±6.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilton and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Wilton 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 |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$114,349±$21kHighest 15% above NH |
| Wilton and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$384,000±$21k 5% below NH |
$381,500±$23kLowest 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,382±$70Lowest 7% below NH |
| Mason and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$7,612 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.1%±39.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
30 minLowest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason and Wilton 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 | — | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Mason School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.