What stands out worked out from the figures below

Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).

Westfield has the most affordable homes ($325k median).

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	Westfield
People
Population	34,116Lowest	40,378Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+3.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	40.3±1.6Highest 4% above U.S.	39.9±1.8Lowest about the U.S. average
	Derry and Westfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%	18.1%±2Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Derry and Westfield 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%	18.7%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	33.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	10%±0.9Highest U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S.	$87,753±$6kLowest 9% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S.	$325,100±$11kLowest about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S.	$1,117±$60Lowest 21% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.	$4,746Lowest 52% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%	46.5%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derry and Westfield 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%	10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1964Lowest 16 yrs older 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%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	8.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#60 of 120 in NH	#197 of 282 in MA
School district	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District	Westfield
High school in town	Pinkerton Academy	Westfield High
Students per teacherat that high school	13.9Highest	11.9Lowest
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.