Compare towns
Derry vs Milford vs Brookline vs Sandown
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).
Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | Brookline | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
8,956 |
5,736Lowest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.3% NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
36.7±3.7Lowest 15% below NH |
41.2±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Brookline and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
18.1%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Milford 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% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Brookline 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±$7k 10% above NH |
$78,684±$11kLowest 21% below NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$357,800±$16kLowest 11% below NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
| Brookline and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,557±$120 4% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,893±$721 27% above NH |
| Brookline and Sandown 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 |
$6,978Lowest 5% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,801 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±10.7 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown 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% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
59.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | Brookline School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9 |
— | — | — |
| 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.