Compare towns

Berwick vs Derry vs Hooksett vs Rochester

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Berwick has the most people working from home (20.2%).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).

What matters to you?

Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.

MeasureBerwickDerryHooksettRochester
People
Population
8,175Lowest
21,339
15,057
33,144Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
41±3
5% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
43±1.8Highest
11% above U.S.
Rochester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.7%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.2%±1.7
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
14.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.6%±1.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Rochester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%
U.S.: 35.7%
36.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$94,771±$24k
17% above U.S.
$91,673±$11k
14% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$80,836±$3kLowest
about the U.S. average
Hooksett and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$369,100±$19k
11% above U.S.
$391,200±$23k
18% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$279,100±$10kLowest
16% below U.S.
Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430
about the U.S. average
$1,549±$137
10% above U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,369±$72Lowest
3% below U.S.
Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
$7,278Highest
133% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$5,334
71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.3%±7
U.S.: 51.1%
Derry and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
66%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
29 min
11% above U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
20.2%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
11.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #101 of 133 in ME #60 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH #98 of 120 in NH
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 — Hooksett School District Rochester School District
High school in town None in town — None in town Spaulding High School
Students per teacherat that high school — — —
13.2
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet None yet

U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.