What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).

South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

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	South Berwick
People
Population	34,116Highest	7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±1.6Highest 4% above U.S.	39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average
	Derry and South Berwick 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%	26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22%
	South Berwick and Derry 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%	15.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	South Berwick 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	41.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S.	$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S.
	Derry and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S.	$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S.
	Derry and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S.	$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S.
	South Berwick and Derry 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.	$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	South Berwick and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.	27 minLowest about the U.S. average
Work from home	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.6%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	South Berwick 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	#58 of 133 in ME
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Highest	13.0Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.