Compare towns
Derry vs Milford vs Pelham
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 youngest population (median age 36.8).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,337 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Pelham 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% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Pelham 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 |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% 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 |
$7,522Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Milford School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Milford High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
10.7 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.