Compare towns
Derry vs Dover 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 highest household income ($109k).
Dover has the most people working from home (18.6%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Rochester has the oldest population (median age 43).
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 | Dover | Keene | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
33,364 |
22,939Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
37.6±2.3 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 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 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+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 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+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$279,100±$10k 31% below NH |
| Dover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Dover 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Dover 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
55.1% NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dover School District | Keene School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Dover Senior High School | Keene High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.7 |
12.3Lowest |
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.