City Profile

Derry, New Hampshire

USA · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

Overall Score

Derry, New Hampshire, is a town steeped in history, tracing its origins to Scots-Irish settlers in 1719 who established it as part of Londonderry. Known as "Spacetown" due to being the birthplace of astronaut Alan Shepard, it also hosted the poet Robert Frost. Historically a hub for linen and leather, Derry later saw industrial growth with shoe factories and experienced a significant suburban expansion post-World War II, fueled by its proximity to Boston and Manchester. Today, Derry offers a blend of small-town charm, historical significance, and convenient access to major metropolitan areas, making it an attractive place to live for those seeking a balanced lifestyle.

About New Hampshire

New Hampshire, known as the "Granite State," offers a blend of scenic beauty, small-town charm, and a strong sense of community, appealing to those seeking outdoor recreation and a peaceful lifestyle. The economy is diverse, with major industries including smart manufacturing/high technology, healthcare, and tourism. While the cost of living is generally 10-15% above the national average, driven by higher housing costs and property taxes, residents benefit from no state income or sales tax. The state experiences distinct seasons, with cold, snowy winters and warm summers, and its lifestyle emphasizes independence and outdoor activities.

34,389

Population

$72K

Avg Salary

112

Cost Index

65.4

Quality Score

How this 65/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them

Component	Readings used	Points	Weight	Contributes
Safety	Safety score: 90 / 100	90.0	30%	27.0
Affordability	Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 112.0	28.8	25%	7.2
Economy & jobs	Median household income: $108,944 Income needed to live here: $62,000 Unemployment rate: 2.8%	95.0	20%	19.0
Growth	Population growth rate: 0.4% Job growth rate: no usable reading	35.0	15%	5.3
Business climate assessment	Business climate assessment: 70 / 100	70.0	10%	7.0
Overall score				65.4

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 3 (deep think) (q=63, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 5 September 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business

Livability

Affordability

Growth

Expenses

Cost of Living

Derry's cost of living is approximately 12% higher than the national average, with housing being a primary driver of these elevated expenses, costing about 32% more than the national average [16]. While utilities and transportation costs are closer to the national average, the overall expense of living in Derry makes it a more costly place to reside compared to the U.S. average. This higher cost of living is a key factor for individuals and families considering relocation to the area, necessitating careful budgeting and salary considerations [15, 16].

Average Rent

$2,366/mo

Groceries

$339/mo

Transport

$200/mo

Gym membership (monthly)

$50.00

Cinema ticket

$15.00

Restaurant meal (mid-range)

$25.00

Monthly groceries

$339.00

Doctor visit (without insurance)

$175.00

Income

Salary Insights

The economic landscape of Derry is shaped by key industries including Health Care & Social Assistance, Manufacturing, and Retail Trade, which collectively employ a significant portion of its workforce [3]. While recent data indicates a slight decline in overall employment, Derry's strategic location in southern New Hampshire, coupled with available development opportunities, positions it as a viable choice for businesses looking to establish or expand operations [3, 42]. The town boasts a low projected unemployment rate of 2.8% for July 2026, indicating a stable job market [26].

The average salary in Derry is $72,000 per year. You would need approximately $62,000 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Trade Manufacturing Health Care & Social Assistance Professional, Scientific, & Technical Services Real Estate & Rental & Leasing

Weather

Climate

🌡️

Avg Temp

☀️

Summer High

❄️

Winter Low

🌧️

Annual Rain

💧

Humidity

🌤️

Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Derry is predominantly car-dependent, reflected in its low walkability score of 28, suggesting that most errands require a vehicle [7]. The average commute time for residents is approximately 29.3 minutes [3]. While public transportation is available through the Cooperative Alliance for Regional Transportation (CART), its services are described as limited, focusing on specific routes and demand-response options [28, 36].

29 min

Avg Commute

40.00/10

Transit Score

28.00/10

Walkability

High

Car Dependency

At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages

Low crime rate, with overall crime 49% below the national average and violent crime 57% lower [14].

Strategic location offering convenient access to Boston and Manchester, with major highways nearby [28, 44].

No state income tax, contributing to potential savings for residents [30].

Rich historical heritage, including being the birthplace of astronaut Alan Shepard and home to poet Robert Frost [4, 31, 32, 38].

Access to natural beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities, including parks and trails [30].

Drawbacks

High car dependency due to limited public transportation options [7, 28].

Cost of living is 12% higher than the national average, driven by housing costs [16].

Housing prices are above the national average, with a median sold price of $450,000 as of August 2026 [17].

Experiences harsh winters with significant snowfall [30].

Recent employment data shows a slight decline, though the unemployment rate remains low [3].

Head to Head

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Derry VS Grants Pass Derry VS Cincinnati Derry VS Binghamton Derry VS Akron

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Community Q&A

Questions about Derry

What people ask about living in and moving to Derry, New Hampshire.

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FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Urblytica benchmarks its Cost of Living Index against a United States national average baseline of 100. A score of 115 means a city is approximately 15% more expensive than the national average, while a score of 85 indicates it is 15% more affordable. This composite calculation is weighted across six primary expenditure categories: housing, utilities, grocery items, transportation, healthcare, and miscellaneous goods.

Urblytica aggregates housing data from multiple authoritative sources, including Multiple Listing Service (MLS) feeds, municipal property tax registries, the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), and verified historical deed transactions. This multi-tier aggregation ensures precision in tracking median home values and rental rates.

A municipality must meet minimum data-density thresholds—including consistent reporting population samples from the U.S. Census and active residential or commercial real estate transaction feeds—to ensure statistical significance before a complete scoring profile is published.

When primary agencies (such as the Bureau of Labor Statistics or U.S. Census Bureau) issue historical data revisions or benchmark corrections, Urblytica's data pipeline automatically re-indexes affected historical archives to maintain longitudinal trend accuracy.

U.S. affordability calculations incorporate federal income tax brackets, state-specific income tax rates, and local municipal tax variations to evaluate the true net tax drag on median household earnings across different states and cities.

Local county and municipal property tax millage rates are factored directly into the housing component of the cost-of-living index to reflect recurring annual tax burdens for homeowners.

The platform aggregates state sales taxes alongside county and city surtaxes to measure consumer basket purchasing power parity accurately across different retail jurisdictions.

Utility calculations apply regional seasonal consumption weightings, incorporating high summer air conditioning loads in southern states and heavy winter heating demands in northern states.

The index tracks average out-of-pocket healthcare expenses, routine outpatient visit costs, and regional health insurance premium benchmarks published by federal health agencies.

Educational metrics aggregate state standardized testing benchmarks, student-to-teacher ratios, high school graduation rates, and per-pupil expenditure data published by state departments of education.

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