What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Plymouth has the shortest commute (18 min average).

Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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	Plymouth
People
Population	34,116Highest	6,601Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest NH: +4.6%	-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	40.3±1.6Highest 7% below NH	24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2%	13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	15.2%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1%	12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Derry and Plymouth 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%	54%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Lowest NH: 6%	33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH	$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH
	Derry and Plymouth 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	$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH	$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,103Highest 22% above NH	$6,288Lowest 6% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2%	33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Derry and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	18.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Highest NH: 72.8%	56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 16% above NH	18 minLowest 31% below NH
Work from home	16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8%	11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Derry and Plymouth 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	#47 of 120 in NH
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	Plymouth Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Highest	12.8Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.