Compare towns

Derry vs Milford vs Milford 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).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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.

MeasureDerryMilfordMilfordAtkinson
People
Population
34,116Highest
8,956
16,337
7,267Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+4.3%
NH: +4.6%
+6.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5%
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.3±1.6
7% below NH
36.7±3.7Lowest
15% below NH
36.8±2.5
15% below NH
57.1±2.8Highest
32% above NH
Kids under 18
20.7%±2.1
NH: 18.2%
23.2%±4
NH: 18.2%
23.7%±3.6Highest
NH: 18.2%
14.1%±3.8Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Milford 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%±2.5
NH: 20.1%
15.1%±1.9Lowest
NH: 20.1%
27.4%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.4%
NH: 40.6%
33.6%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
37.2%
NH: 40.6%
42.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.5Highest
NH: 6%
3.3%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
4.2%±1.3
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
$97,768±$14k
about the NH average
$146,380±$32kHighest
48% above NH
Atkinson 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±$17k
7% above NH
$357,800±$16kLowest
11% below NH
$398,800±$20k
about the NH average
$555,200±$65kHighest
38% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,547±$138
4% above NH
$1,557±$120
4% above NH
$1,661±$126Highest
11% above NH
$1,140±$32Lowest
24% below NH
Milford and Milford 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
$6,978
5% above NH
$7,522
13% above NH
$6,918Lowest
4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±9
NH: 48.2%
48.2%±10.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
49.6%±15.8
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%
3.9%
NH: 7.2%
1.8%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.2%
NH: 72.8%
59.4%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
64.9%
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
1982
3 yrs newer than NH
1980
1 yr newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above NH
26 minLowest
about the NH average
27 min
about the NH average
28 min
6% above NH
Work from home
16%±2.8
NH: 16.8%
12.1%±3.9Lowest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
21.1%±6.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
Atkinson 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 #55 of 120 in NH #55 of 120 in NH #32 of 120 in NH
School district Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District — Milford School District Timberlane Regional School District
High school in town Pinkerton Academy — Milford High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.9Highest
—
10.7Lowest
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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.