Compare towns
Derry vs Milford vs Newmarket vs Swanzey
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 highest household income ($109k).
Milford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
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 | Newmarket | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,337 |
9,463 |
7,398Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.2±1.9 5% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Derry 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$100,845±$13k about the NH average |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Derry and Newmarket 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 |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$455,000±$22kHighest 13% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| Newmarket and Derry 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 |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
| Newmarket and Milford 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 |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey 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% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newmarket 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 | #39 of 120 in NH | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Milford School District | Newmarket School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Milford High School | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
10.7 |
9.9Lowest |
12.8 |
| 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.