Compare towns
Derry vs Pelham vs Hampstead
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 most affordable homes ($432k median).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Pelham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
14,449 |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Pelham 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% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest 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±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Derry and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest 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% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 minLowest 10% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Pelham School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Pelham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
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| 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.