Compare towns
Derry vs Pepperell vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Pepperell has the most renters (50.8% rent).
Pepperell has the most homeowners (84.3%).
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 | Pepperell | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,971Lowest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
46.4±6.3Highest 19% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Pepperell 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% |
18.7%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pepperell and Pepperell 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
38.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Pepperell 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 35% above U.S. |
$76,726±$17kLowest 5% below U.S. |
$124,073±$12kHighest 54% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$457,300±$40k 37% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Pepperell and Pepperell 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. |
$1,139±$301Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,295±$238 8% below U.S. |
| Derry and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$6,871 120% above U.S. |
$6,698Lowest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.6%±20.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pepperell 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% |
10.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
49.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Pepperell 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 | #153 of 282 in MA | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | North Middlesex |
| 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 |
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.