What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lunenburg has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.8%).

Derry has the shortest commute (31 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lunenburg	Derry
People
Population	11,902Lowest	34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+16.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±2.1Highest 11% above U.S.	40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.1%±3Highest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Lunenburg and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.9%±2.7Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Lunenburg and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$112,828±$11kHighest 40% above U.S.	$108,944±$7kLowest 35% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$463,900±$24kHighest 39% above U.S.	$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,974±$586Highest 40% above U.S.	$1,547±$138Lowest 9% above U.S.
	Lunenburg and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,401Lowest 105% above U.S.	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	45.8%±13.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derry and Lunenburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minHighest 37% above U.S.	31 minLowest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Derry and Lunenburg 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	#87 of 282 in MA	#60 of 120 in NH
School district	Lunenburg	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town	Lunenburg High	Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	12.4Lowest	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.