Compare towns
Derry vs Dracut 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 people working from home (16%).
Dracut has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.7%).
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.
| Measure | Derry | Dracut | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
32,574Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Derry 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% |
18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Dracut 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 35% above U.S. |
$114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Dracut and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$473,900±$17kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,839±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$5,375 72% above U.S. |
$5,334Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±7.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dracut and Derry 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% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derry and Rochester 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Dracut | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Dracut Senior High | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.9Lowest |
13.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.