Compare towns
Derry vs Methuen vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
Methuen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Methuen | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116 |
53,475Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.5±2.7Highest 7% above U.S. |
| Pelham 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% |
21.3%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Methuen 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% |
17.2%±1.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Methuen and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen and Derry 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. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Methuen 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. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Methuen and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 160% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Methuen | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Methuen High | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
13.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.