What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fall River has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).

Derry has the most people working from home (16%).

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	Fall River	Derry
People
Population	94,082Highest	34,116Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.3±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average	40.3±1.6Highest 4% above U.S.
	Derry and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Derry and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	16.1%±0.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Fall River and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and Fall River are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S.	$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S.	$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S.	$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,953Lowest 27% above U.S.	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±9Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Fall River and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	70.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest about the U.S. average	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#262 of 282 in MA	#60 of 120 in NH
School district	Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town	B M C Durfee High	Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	11.3Lowest	13.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.