Compare towns
Derry vs Strafford vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Strafford | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
4,306Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Strafford 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% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Strafford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Strafford 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 |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Exeter 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Strafford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.