Compare towns

Hampstead vs Haverhill vs Derry

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k 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.

MeasureHampsteadHaverhillDerry
People
Population
9,102Lowest
67,698Highest
34,116
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+11.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±6.1Highest
16% above U.S.
39.4±1.1Lowest
about the U.S. average
40.3±1.6
4% above U.S.
Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
21.8%±4Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±1.2
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
32.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±0.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Derry and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$112,348±$18kHighest
39% above U.S.
$88,326±$4kLowest
9% above U.S.
$108,944±$7k
35% above U.S.
Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$521,100±$45kHighest
57% above U.S.
$453,900±$9k
36% above U.S.
$432,000±$17kLowest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,299±$149Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,668±$49Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,547±$138
9% above U.S.
Haverhill and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,634Highest
177% above U.S.
$4,772Lowest
53% above U.S.
$8,103
160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±20.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
60.2%±5.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±9
U.S.: 51.1%
Haverhill and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
11.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
62.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
27 minLowest
4% above U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
21%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.5%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampstead 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 #49 of 120 in NH #243 of 282 in MA #60 of 120 in NH
School district Hampstead School District Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town None in town Haverhill High Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.5Lowest
13.9Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.