By Lisa Sevajian, Realtor · Last updated October 11, 2026 · 7 min read

What Do Derry NH Schools and Property Taxes Really Cost You in 2026?

Thinking about Derry NH? Start with the part no listing can show you.

A listing shows you the kitchen and the yard. It doesn't show you the tax bill. It doesn't tell you where your kids will go to high school, either.

If you're worried about a surprise after you move in, you aren't alone. I hear that worry a lot from families looking at Derry NH.

So here's Derry NH in plain numbers. Every figure comes from the town, the school district or the state. I'll show you where each one lives, so you can check it too.

In Derry NH, about two of every three tax dollars go to schools.

What's the property tax rate in Derry NH?

The 2025 Derry NH tax rate is $18.99 per $1,000 of assessed value. The New Hampshire Department of Revenue Administration set it, and the town posts it.

Assessed value is the value the town puts on your home for taxes. To estimate a bill, divide that value by 1,000. Then multiply by the rate.

If you owned in 2024, your rate went up 30 cents, about 1.6 percent. You won't know the 2026 rate until the state sets it in November 2026.

How much of a Derry NH tax bill goes to schools?

About 68 percent of your bill. The local school part is $11.84 and the state education part is $1.14. Together that's $12.98 of the $18.99.

The local school part went up 14 cents in 2025, about 1.2 percent. The town part also went up 14 cents. So if you're asking where your money goes in Derry NH, the short answer is schools.

Where do Derry NH kids go to high school?

Derry NH high schoolers go to Pinkerton Academy, and the town pays their tuition.

The Derry NH school district runs preschool through grade 8. Pinkerton Academy is a private, nonprofit school in Derry NH. You'll hear locals call it Pinkerton. It serves as the high school for Derry NH and several nearby towns. About 3,100 students go there.

So if you're touring homes, you won't find a town high school on the map. That catches some buyers off guard. It isn't good or bad. It's just different, and you'll want to visit Pinkerton Academy yourself before you decide.

What does the 2026 revaluation mean for your Derry NH tax bill?

It means your value and your rate will both change on the fall 2026 bill.

A revaluation is when the town updates every property's value to match the market. State law calls for a full update at least every five years. This one uses Derry NH sales from April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026.

Here's why you're seeing it now. In 2025, Derry NH homes were assessed at a median of 91.6 percent of what they sold for. The town aims to stay between 90 and 110 percent.

Here's the timeline the town posted:

• Late August 2026: value change notices went out
• September 2026: informal hearings by phone or in person
• November 2026: the state sets the new tax rate
• November or December 2026: the fall tax bill
• Before March 1, 2027: the deadline to ask for an abatement

An abatement is a request to lower your assessment. You'll need proof, like accurate similar sales nearby.

The town's advice is clear. Don't use the current rate to estimate your new bill. When values go up across town, the rate usually goes down. Salem NH went through the same thing this year, and I explain the math in this guide.

What's on the November ballot for Derry NH schools?

A school tax cap question is on every New Hampshire ballot on November 3, 2026.

A new state law put it there. The governor signed it on July 15, 2026. If your town passes it, the local school part of your tax could only grow with inflation and new construction. Bonded building projects don't count toward the limit.

It wouldn't cap the town, county or state education parts of your bill. If it passes, it starts July 1, 2027 and lasts two years unless voters renew it.

People feel strongly on both sides. Some see tax relief. Others worry about cuts to programs. Either way, it could shape the Derry NH school budget, so read the question before you vote.

How does Derry NH compare with Londonderry NH, Pelham NH and Salem NH?

Derry NH sits in the middle on rate and near the top on school share.

*The Derry NH district runs preschool through grade 8. High school is paid as tuition to Pinkerton Academy.

Remember, a rate isn't a bill. Each town assesses homes a little differently. If you're torn between two towns, compare the real tax bill on a real house you like in each.

The state's statewide average cost per pupil for 2022 to 2023 was $20,323. That's the newest year I could confirm on the state site.

Is Derry NH cheaper than living in Massachusetts?

It depends on your income and how you spend, not just the tax bill.

New Hampshire has no broad income tax on wages and no general sales tax. It leans more on property tax. Massachusetts taxes income and sales, and leans less on property.

So you can't compare two tax bills by themselves. You have to look at your whole year. If you earn a paycheck and spend a lot, Derry NH may come out ahead. If you're retired on a fixed income, the property tax matters more. There's a real answer for your numbers, and it takes about twenty minutes to work out.

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