Derry
New Hampshire, USA
#16 in USA
75
Overall Score
VS
Albuquerque
New Mexico, USA
#28 in USA
72
Overall Score
Derry scores higher overall

Score Breakdown

Derry
Albuquerque
Livability
78
74
Affordability
55
65
Business
70
68
Growth
60
70

Cost of Living

Derry is the more affordable option overall — monthly living expenses run approximately 37% lower compared to Albuquerque. Housing costs are a major driver: Derry's average rent is 101% higher than Albuquerque's.
MetricDerryAlbuquerqueDiff
Average Rent
$2,366$1,178+101%
Groceries
$339$400-15%
Utilities
$0$195-100%
Transport
$200$120+67%
Healthcare
$0$2,723-100%
Monthly Total
$2,905$4,616-37%
Cost Index
11297out of 100

Salary & Income

Albuquerque offers 6% lower average salaries. However, when adjusted for local cost of living, Albuquerque delivers stronger purchasing power — meaning your dollar stretches further day-to-day. The minimum comfortable salary in Derry is estimated at $62,000 vs $69,443 in Albuquerque.
MetricDerryAlbuquerque
Average Salary
$72,000$77,000
Salary Needed
$62,000$69,443
Purchasing Power
64,286 idx79,381 idx
Household Income
$108,944$71,494

Climate Comparison

Both cities share a similar average temperature, within 0°F of each other.
MetricDerryAlbuquerque
Avg Temp
°F°F
Summer High
°F°F
Winter Low
°F°F
Rainfall
in in
Snowfall
in in
Sunny Days
Humidity
%%

Commute & Transport

Albuquerque has the shorter commute — saving residents roughly 2,000 minutes (33 hours) per year compared to Derry. Derry scores higher for public transit, making it the better choice for car-free living. For walkability, Albuquerque leads — a better score here means more amenities reachable on foot.
MetricDerryAlbuquerque
Commute Time
29 min25 min
Transit Score
40.0/1035.0/10
Walkability
28.0/1043.0/10
Traffic Index
Car Dependency
HighMedium

Economy & Demographics

Albuquerque is the larger city — approximately 0.1x the population of Derry. From a growth perspective, Derry is expanding faster, signaling stronger demand for housing, jobs, and services. On the employment side, Derry has a lower unemployment rate, reflecting a tighter and more competitive job market.
MetricDerryAlbuquerque
Population
34,389560,326
Pop. Growth
0.40%%
Median Age
41.038.8
Unemployment
2.80%4.20%
GDP
$0.0B$0.0B

Pros & Cons

Derry
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].
Albuquerque
Advantages
The cost of living in Albuquerque is 3% lower than the national average, making it more affordable than many U.S. cities.
Housing expenses are notably reasonable, with average rent 29% lower than the national average.
Albuquerque boasts a highly accessible park system, ranking 15th nationally in 2024, with 90% of residents living within a walkable half-mile of a park.
The city offers a rich cultural heritage and a vibrant arts scene, including the renowned International Balloon Fiesta.
Healthcare costs are lower than the national average, with annual medical costs for a single adult around $2,723 in 2024.
Drawbacks
Albuquerque has a high violent crime rate, which is 229% above the national average, resulting in an 'F' safety grade.
The city's overall walkability score of 43 indicates a high reliance on cars for most daily errands.
Despite a decrease in violent crime, burglaries increased by 11% in 2024.
The population experienced a slight decline of 0.25% in 2024.
Specific recent data for long-term care costs (home care, assisted living, nursing home) were not readily available.

Dive Deeper

Key figures side by side — see which city wins each category at a glance.

Derry
#16
New Hampshire, USA
75.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$2,366
Avg Salary
$72,000
Cost Index
112
Commute
29 min
Transit Score
40.0/10
Walkability
28.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
0.40%
Unemployment
2.80%
Livability
78
Business
70
View Full Profile
Albuquerque
#28
New Mexico, USA
72.0 / 100 overall
Avg Rent
$1,178
Avg Salary
$77,000
Cost Index
97
Commute
25 min
Transit Score
35.0/10
Walkability
43.0/10
Sunny Days
/yr
Avg Temp
°F
Pop. Growth
%
Unemployment
4.20%
Livability
74
Business
68
View Full Profile

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