Compare towns
Sandown vs Exeter 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
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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.
| Measure | Sandown | Exeter | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,628Lowest |
16,151 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Exeter and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Sandown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Sandown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Sandown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801 32% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Exeter 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.