Compare towns
Derry vs Nelson vs Sullivan
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k 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 | Nelson | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
648Lowest |
687 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
| Sullivan and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Derry 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Sullivan 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Sullivan 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 |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Derry and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,225±$275 18% below NH |
| Derry and Sullivan 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 |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Nelson School District | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9 |
— | — |
| 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.