Compare towns
Derry vs Swanzey vs Dover
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).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Swanzey | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
7,398Lowest |
33,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Swanzey 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% |
24.2%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Derry 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 10% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Derry 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 |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey 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% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
71.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | #102 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Monadnock Regional High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.8 |
12.7Lowest |
| 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.