City Report · NH

Derry

Pop. 21,339·9th most expensive in New Hampshire·Rental market data updated monthly for Derry, NH
Median rent (all units)
$2,263/mo
Year-over-Year
+4.4%
Month-over-Month
+0.5%
vs US Median
+$331
Reported rents
Stable (Monthly)
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Most AffordableMost Expensive
Derry · $2,263
More expensive than 72% of US cities · National median $1,932/mo
Rent Reality Score
49/100
Fairly priced
OverheatedFairGreat value

Rents are right about where Derry's 10-year trend predicts.

Actual rent
$2,263/mo
Expected by trend
$2,252/mo
The Rent Reality Score compares today's median rent to where Derry's own long-run trajectory projects it should be. See the full rankings →
Medians by bedroom

Rent by unit size

Studio
$1,250
1 BR
$1,350
2 BR
$1,770
3 BR
$2,320
4 BR+
$2,440
Fair Market Rent (HUD)
$1,770/mo

These are HUD Fair Market Rents, the payment standard for a Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8). They often differ from the $2,263 market median above, and that is expected: FMR is the 40th percentile of standard-quality units and counts gross rent, so it includes essential utilities such as electricity, water, gas, sewer, and trash. The market median is asking rent, which usually excludes utilities. HUD sets FMR once a year; market rent here updates monthly.

Source: HUD Small Area Fair Market Rents. Read the methodology →

Rent trends

12-month history

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Last updated: October 17, 2026

From the history

What the numbers show

Compared with the peak

Rent in Derry is at its highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2022.

Past year vs. the rest of New Hampshire

Rent in Derry changed +4.4% over the year to September 2026. Across the 14 New Hampshire cities Zillow tracks, the typical change was +3.2%.

Recent direction

Rent rose in 7 of the last 12 months.

What a typical income covers

30% of the median household income ($91,673) is $2,292 a month. That covers HUD's Fair Market Rent for up to a 2-bedroom ($1,770); a 3-bedroom is $2,320.

Cheaper nearby

Hampton, 23 miles away, rents for 11% less ($2,015/mo), about $3,000 a year in savings.

From Zillow's monthly rent index (ZORI) for Derry. Income is the Census median household income (5-year estimates). Fair Market Rents are HUD’s, which include utilities.

Annual cost
$27,156/yr
At $2,263/mo median
Rent Market Meter
Landlord's Market
Renter's MarketBalancedLandlord's Market
Rents are climbing (4.4% YoY), so leverage tilts toward landlords. Act sooner rather than later.
Based on rent-price momentum (+4.4% YoY, +0.5% MoM), not inventory.
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Demographics

Who lives here

Derry, NH is majority owner-occupied, has a median income above the national average, 36.7% of residents hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Population
21,339
Median income
$91,673
Median age
41
Renters
40.9%
Age distribution
19.9%
22.6%
25.2%
17.4%
14.8%
Under 1819.9%
18–3422.6%
35–5425.2%
55–6417.4%
65+14.8%
Gender
47.6%
52.4%
Male47.6%
Female52.4%
Race & ethnicity
90.9%
White90.9%
Hispanic4.5%
Asian2.9%
Other1.6%
Education (25+)
29%
27%
36.7%
No HS diploma7.4%
HS diploma29%
Some college27%
Bachelor's+36.7%
Housing tenure
59.1%
40.9%
Owner59.1%
Renter40.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau · ACS 2024 5-Year Estimates

2023 vs 2026

How Derry, NH has changed in 5 years

Rent
$2,030 → $2,263
up 11.5%
Income
$73,968 → $91,673
up 23.9%
Population
23,571 → 21,339
down 9.5%
Renter share
41.6% → 40.9%
-0.7 pts
Bachelor's+
30.6% → 36.7%
+6.1 pts
Median age
38.4 → 41
+2.6 yrs

Since 2023, the typical rent in Derry, NH has increased from $2,030 to $2,263, a 11.5% change over five years. Median household income rose from $73,968 to $91,673 between 2021 and 2024, a 23.9% shift. On paper, paychecks moved up faster than rent, which softens the affordability squeeze versus the 2021 baseline. The population has contracted by 9.5% since 2021, moving from about 23,571 residents to roughly 21,339. College-educated residents now make up 36.7% of adults here, versus 30.6% in 2021. Taken together, the five-year picture in Derry, NH reflects how housing costs and the people paying them have evolved through a stretch that included a pandemic, a hot rental market, and a recent cooling phase.

Community

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View Derry rent history (2015–2026) →
Salary vs rent

Can you afford rent in Derry on your salary?

At $2,263/mo, how Derry rent compares to typical pay (30% rule).

By apartment size

Derry rent by bedroom count

Median rent for each apartment size in Derry. Click any size for full breakdown.

Local insights

Tips for renters in Derry

About renting in Derry, NH

Last updated: October 17, 2026

The median rent in Derry is $2,263/mo as of October 2026. A studio apartment averages $1,250/mo while a 2-bedroom runs $1,770/mo. One-bedroom apartments average $1,350/mo and 3-bedroom units go for $2,320/mo.

At 30% of local median household income ($91,673/yr), Derry ranks as moderate compared to the national benchmark of 30%. Rents have increased 4.4% over the past year.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

How much income do you need to rent in Derry?

To keep rent at or below 30% of gross income, you would need to earn at least $91,000/year (about $44/hour full-time) to afford the median rent of $2,263/mo in Derry. The local median household income is $91,673/yr, so the typical household meets that bar.

Is rent going up or down in Derry?

Rent in Derry has risen 4.4% over the past year as of September 2026. That is the highest level since Zillow's records here began in December 2022.

How does Derry rent compare to other cities in New Hampshire?

Derry is in the middle among New Hampshire cities for rent, ranking #9 of 18 tracked cities at $2,263/mo. Over the year to September 2026, rent in Derry changed +4.4%, against a typical +3.2% across the 14 New Hampshire cities Zillow tracks.

Which nearby cities are cheaper to rent in than Derry?

Nearby cities with lower median rent than Derry ($2,263/mo) include Manchester ($2,082/mo), Dracut ($2,230/mo), and Haverhill ($2,258/mo).
Income Affordability
30%
MODERATE

At $2,263/mo, rent takes ~30% of Derry's median household income ($91,673/yr). The standard benchmark is 30%.

Derry 30%Benchmark 30%
State income taxNone
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Neighborhoods

Estimated from ZIP-level data

Schools nearby

Public schools near Derry, NH

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