Compare towns
Nashua vs Dover vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nashua has the most affordable homes ($404k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Derry has the most homeowners (70.2%).
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 | Nashua | Dover | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 91,294Highest |
33,364Lowest |
34,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40±1.3 8% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.3±1.6Highest 7% below NH |
| Derry and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Nashua and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Dover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,326±$5k about the NH average |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Dover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Nashua and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,799Lowest about the NH average |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.8% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.4%±1.6 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover and Nashua 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 | #67 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nashua School District | Dover School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Nashua High School South | Dover Senior High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
12.7Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| 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.