Compare towns
Northfield 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
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Derry has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Northfield | Dover | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971Lowest |
33,364 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Northfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Northfield and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Lowest 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 | $92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
$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 | $1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Dover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest 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 | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Dover School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 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.