Compare towns
Derry vs Amherst vs Rochester vs Derry
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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
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 | Amherst | Rochester | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
11,861Lowest |
33,144 |
21,339 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
41±3 5% below NH |
| Amherst and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$91,673±$11k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$391,200±$23k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH |
| Derry and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$7,278 9% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Rochester School District | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Souhegan Coop High School | Spaulding High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
13.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.