What stands out worked out from the figures below

Waterbury has the most people working from home (28.3%).

Derry has the youngest population (median age 40.3).

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	Waterbury	Derry
People
Population	5,405Lowest	34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+5.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.2±3.7Highest 11% above U.S.	40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S.
	Waterbury and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.9%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22%	20.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Waterbury and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.8%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%	15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Waterbury and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	54.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%	37.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Derry and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$103,917±$23kLowest 29% above U.S.	$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S.
	Derry and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$447,200±$40kHighest 34% above U.S.	$432,000±$17kLowest 30% above U.S.
	Waterbury and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,027±$535Lowest 27% below U.S.	$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S.
	Derry and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,435Lowest 106% above U.S.	$8,103Highest 160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±21.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Derry and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	70.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1983 3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 14% above U.S.	31 minHighest 17% above U.S.
Work from home	28.3%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1%	16%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#20 of 70 in VT	#60 of 120 in NH
School district	Harwood Unified Union School District #60	Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town	None in town	Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	13.9
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.