Compare towns
Derry vs Standish vs Steep Falls
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 expensive homes ($432k median).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
Steep Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
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 | Standish | Steep Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
10,662 |
1,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8 4% above U.S. |
44.1±6.5Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Steep Falls and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±9.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Steep Falls and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$80,280±$33kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Derry and Standish 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. |
$336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
$243,400±$31kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,516±$1k 7% above U.S. |
| Derry and Steep Falls 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. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,273 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±36.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Steep Falls and Standish 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% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
4%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derry and Standish 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Bonny Eagle High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.