Compare towns
Derry vs Keene vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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.
| Measure | Derry | Keene | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Lowest |
22,939 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Rochester and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kHighest 7% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$279,100±$10k 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278Highest 9% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
66%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Keene School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | — | Keene High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.