Compare towns
Derry vs Dalton 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
Derry has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Dalton has the oldest population (median age 49.7).
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 | Dalton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
6,256Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8Highest 28% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Dalton and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Dalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26k 11% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$4,276Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 16% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derry and Dalton 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 | #192 of 282 in MA | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Central Berkshire | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Wahconah Regional High | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
10.9Lowest |
13.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.