Compare towns
Suncook 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
Suncook has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Suncook | Dover | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,432Lowest |
33,364 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.9±8.1 12% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
40.3±1.6Highest 7% below NH |
| Derry and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Dover and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.6Lowest 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 | $79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $361,100±$22kLowest 10% 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 | $1,091±$317Lowest 27% 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 | $6,975Lowest 5% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.2%±21.7Lowest 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 | 12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.5% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 8% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.5%±6.7Lowest 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 | — | #64 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dover School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school 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.