Compare towns
Derry vs Windham vs Merrimack
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 renters (29.8% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Windham | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,038Lowest |
28,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
| Merrimack and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham and Merrimack 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% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Merrimack and Windham 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% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,932±$147 30% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Merrimack 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Windham School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Windham High School | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.8 |
12.5Lowest |
| 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.