Compare towns
Derry vs Sandown vs Townsend
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 the most renters (29.8% rent).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Townsend has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
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 | Sandown | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
6,628Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
40.8±3.7 5% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Highest 5% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Sandown 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% |
22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Sandown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Townsend 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% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Sandown 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 35% above U.S. |
$135,040±$25kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Sandown and Townsend 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. |
$483,400±$44kHighest 45% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Sandown and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,893±$721Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 160% above U.S. |
$8,801Highest 182% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.1%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sandown 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% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minLowest 17% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±13.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Timberlane Regional School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
| 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.