What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).

North Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Derry	North Berwick
People
Population	34,116Highest	5,129Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+8.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S.	41.6±4.7Highest 7% above U.S.
	North Berwick 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 U.S.: 22%	21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	North Berwick 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 U.S.: 17.2%	20.9%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	North Berwick 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and North Berwick 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 35% above U.S.	$101,875±$16kLowest 26% above U.S.
	Derry and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S.	$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S.
	Derry and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.	$3,735Lowest 20% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Berwick and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1983 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.
Work from home	16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derry and North Berwick 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	#82 of 133 in ME
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	Noble High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Highest	12.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.