What stands out worked out from the figures below

Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.3%).

Derry has the most affordable homes ($391k 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	Haverhill	Derry
People
Population	67,698Highest	21,339Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+11.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	39.4±1.1Lowest about the U.S. average	41±3Highest 5% above U.S.
	Derry and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.3%±1.5Highest U.S.: 22%	19.9%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Haverhill and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	15.5%±1.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%	14.8%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Haverhill and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	36.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	7.2%±2.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$88,326±$4kLowest 9% above U.S.	$91,673±$11kHighest 14% above U.S.
	Derry and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$453,900±$9kHighest 36% above U.S.	$391,200±$23kLowest 18% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,668±$49Highest 18% above U.S.	$1,549±$137Lowest 10% 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	$4,772Lowest 53% above U.S.	$7,278Highest 133% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	60.2%±5.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%	54.7%±9.5Lowest 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	11.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	62.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	59.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S.	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest 4% above U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	12.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	14.2%±3.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derry and Haverhill 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	#243 of 282 in MA	#60 of 120 in NH
School district	Haverhill · Whittier Regional Vocational Technical	—
High school in town	Haverhill High	—
Students per teacherat that high school	12.5	—
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.