Compare towns
Derry vs Somersworth vs Amherst
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Somersworth | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
12,111 |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
38.4±2.7Lowest 11% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Somersworth 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 10% above NH |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
| Derry and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$6,805Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Derry 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Somersworth School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Somersworth High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.4 |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.