Compare towns
Derry vs Suncook vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Suncook has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Suncook | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
5,432Lowest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
41.5±2.7Highest 4% below NH |
| Pelham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham 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 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Pelham 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 |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$361,100±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Derry and Pelham 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 |
$6,975Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | — | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | — | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 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.