Compare towns
Derry vs Milford vs Amherst vs Atkinson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most affordable homes ($358k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Milford | Amherst | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
8,956 |
11,861 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.3% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
36.7±3.7Lowest 15% below NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.2%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Amherst 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% |
18.1%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Amherst 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% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$78,684±$11kLowest 21% below NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
| Amherst and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$357,800±$16kLowest 11% below NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
| Atkinson and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,557±$120Highest 4% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$6,978 5% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson 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% |
5.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
59.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Atkinson 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | — | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.