By Lisa Sevajian, Realtor · Last updated October 24, 2026 · 9 min read

How Do You Choose Between Derry NH and Londonderry NH?

People struggle to choose between Derry NH and Londonderry NH, and I totally understand why. Each one has a lot going for it. So how do you choose? I’m here to help.

Lisa SevajianRealtor · Lisa Sevajian Group at eXp RealtyHelping people buy and sell in Derry NH, Londonderry NH and across Southern NH and Northern MA

The biggest mistake you can make crossing the border into New Hampshire, looking for a better price, space to spread out and still an easy hop to I-93, is never getting to know what these two towns have to offer.

Maybe you’ve had the same two houses open on your phone all week. One in Derry NH, one in Londonderry NH. Both look great. Both are about 15 minutes over the Massachusetts line. You still can’t pick, because the house isn’t really the hard part. The life around it is.

If you’re stuck right here, you aren’t alone. Here’s how my partners and I help people decide, with the real numbers and the homes for sale in both towns right now.

The house that costs $130,000 more can come with the lower tax bill.

Which town fits you, Derry NH or Londonderry NH?

Start with how you want to live, not with the listing photos. Here’s the quick way my partners and I sort it out with buyers.

Then test it in real life. Spend one Saturday morning in each town and drive your real commute from each house. Most people know by dinner.

What's a Saturday like in Derry NH?

Derry NH is the downtown and lake town. Your Saturday starts on Broadway.

Grab coffee at The Grind or crepes at Casa Java Cafe. Then browse. You’ll find books at Once Upon Again Bookstore, records and games at 8-Bit Gaming, and vintage finds at The Nest Vintage & Home.

Then get outside. You can ride the rail trail through town, or spend the afternoon on Beaver Lake or Island Pond. For your next great meal, try Fody’s Tavern or Charlie Mac’s Pizzeria. End your day with a beer at Rockingham Brewing Company, or catch a show at the Adams Memorial Opera House.

You’ll see colonials, split levels and ranches, plus homes on the lake. If you’re buying your first home, condos and starter homes give you a way in.

What's a Saturday like in Londonderry NH?

Londonderry NH is the land and trails town. Your Saturday happens mostly outside.

Start with breakfast at Janie’s Uncommon Cafe, or coffee at Lucciano’s Cafe on Gilcreast Road. In the fall, you can pick apples at Mack’s Apples. The same family has run it for generations. Or stop at the Sunnycrest Farm market.

Then hit the Musquash Conservation Area. It covers more than 1,000 acres. You get about 20 miles of trails to hike, bike, ride horses and cross country ski. Like old things? Browse Revived Antique Mall. For your next great meal, try K’s Italian Prosciutto’s Pizza, then a beer at 603 Brewery.

You’ll find colonials, capes and ranches on bigger lots. Larger, newer homes sit near the airport. Most of New Hampshire’s main airport is inside the town line.

What are the local favorites in Derry NH and Londonderry NH?

Here’s a collection of local favorites. These are the coffee shops, pizza places, farm stands, breweries and trails you’ll keep going back to once you live here. Each Instagram post belongs to the business that shared it. Give them a follow, and tell them you found them here.

Local favorites in Derry NH

Local favorites in Londonderry NH

How close are Derry NH and Londonderry NH to Manchester NH and the airport?

Very close. You can be in Manchester NH in about 15 to 20 minutes from either town on I-93. You get the city’s restaurants, shows and jobs, and you still go home to a yard.

The Manchester NH airport is even closer. Most of it sits inside the Londonderry NH town line. You can get there in minutes from either town. Fly for work, or love a long weekend away? You can skip the drive to Logan Airport most of the time.

How much do homes cost in Derry NH and Londonderry NH?

Derry NH costs less. The median single family home sold for $595,000 in Derry NH and $725,000 in Londonderry NH this year, per the New Hampshire REALTORS September 2026 reports.

In both towns, homes sold in about three weeks, for a little over the first asking price. Derry NH has twice as many homes for sale right now. That gives you more to choose from. In Londonderry NH, the good ones go fast. Have your lender letter ready before you tour.

Which houses are for sale in Derry NH and Londonderry NH right now?

Here are the single family homes for sale right now, live from the MLS. The newest ones show first. Tap any home for photos and details.

Houses for sale in Derry NH

Houses for sale in Londonderry NH

See one you like? Sign up at the bottom of this page and I’ll run the real tax bill and the monthly payment on it for you.

Which town has lower property taxes, Derry NH or Londonderry NH?

Londonderry NH has the lower rate. The 2025 rate is $18.99 per $1,000 in Derry NH and $14.47 per $1,000 in Londonderry NH.

Your bill uses the assessed value. That’s the value the town puts on your home for taxes. It isn’t always the price you pay. To get your bill, divide that value by 1,000. Then multiply by the rate.

So the pricier Londonderry NH house can still come with a lower yearly bill. Always run the bill on the real house you like.

Two things are changing. Derry NH is doing a 2026 revaluation. That means the town updates every home’s value to match the market, so your fall bill there will change. Londonderry NH’s rate dropped from $16.14 after its own update in 2025.

How do the high schools work in Derry NH and Londonderry NH?

Both towns have a high school. The difference is who runs it. Londonderry NH runs its own schools, from Matthew Thornton Elementary and North School up through the high school in Londonderry NH.

In Derry NH, the school district runs preschool through grade 8. For high school, kids go to Pinkerton Academy, right in Derry NH. It’s a nonprofit academy that serves as the high school for Derry NH and a few nearby towns, with about 3,100 students, and the town pays the tuition.

Neither setup is better or worse. It’s just different, so visit both before you decide. Schools take about 68 percent of the tax rate in Derry NH and about 72 percent in Londonderry NH.

Look up the exact schools for any address on the state’s school reports site. A school tax cap question is on every New Hampshire ballot on November 3, 2026, so read it before you vote.

How do you get to Boston from Derry NH or Londonderry NH?

Most people drive. Boston is about 45 to 55 minutes from Derry NH and about 50 from Londonderry NH without traffic.

Exit 4A opened in 2025 and connects both towns to I-93. The state built it to ease traffic on Route 102 through downtown Derry NH.

Rather not drive? The Boston Express bus leaves from Exit 5 in Londonderry NH, a quick drive from either town. It runs straight to South Station and Logan Airport. On the weekday schedule, the 5:00 a.m. bus gets you to South Station at 6:10 and Logan at 6:30. The Exit 5 lot has limited parking, so get there early.

Moving from Massachusetts to Derry NH or Londonderry NH?

You’re about 15 minutes over the line on I-93. On the way up, you pass Salem NH and Windham NH.

Here’s what surprises people coming up from Massachusetts:

• New Hampshire has no sales tax and no income tax on wages. Work in Massachusetts? You still pay Massachusetts income tax on that paycheck.
• The property tax rate looks higher than many Massachusetts towns. Look at your whole year, not just the tax bill.
• Many homes run on a private well and septic instead of town water and sewer. Always find out which one the house you’re considering has. Testing the well and the septic makes good business sense, so you know what to expect before you buy.
• In Derry NH, the high school is Pinkerton Academy, right in town and shared with a few nearby towns.

Selling in Massachusetts and buying here at the same time? Our buy and sell guide walks you through the order to do it in.

Has your team sold homes in Derry NH and Londonderry NH?

Yes. My partners and I have sold 13 homes across the two towns, from condos to single family homes.

That means we know how these homes get priced, how fast the good ones go, and what buyers ask about once they’re standing in the kitchen. You can see every home we’ve sold on our sold map.

Where should you start reading?

Pick the town you’re leaning toward, or read all four. Each guide goes deeper than this page.

What it’s like living in Derry NHDowntown, the lakes, the homes and the tradeoffs.What it’s like living in Londonderry NHTrails, orchards, the airport and bigger lots.Derry NH schools and property taxesPinkerton Academy and the 2026 revaluation.Londonderry NH schools and property taxesWhy the rate dropped, and what it means for you.

Which Saturday sounds more like you?

This is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Check with your attorney, lender and CPA before you decide.

I'll guide you home.

Lisa Sevajian