Compare towns
Derry vs Greenland vs Lyndeborough 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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Greenland has the most people working from home (32.2%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Greenland | Lyndeborough | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
4,106 |
1,616Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
48.4±7.7 12% above NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Lyndeborough and Greenland 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% |
19.8%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Greenland 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% |
28.9%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Greenland and Lyndeborough 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% |
59.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| 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±$7k 10% above NH |
$162,837±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$662,800±$42kHighest 65% above NH |
$390,900±$26k about the NH average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$2,331±$363Highest 56% above NH |
$1,482±$457 about the NH average |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$7,420 11% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
77.3%±44.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Greenland and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
0.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.4% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
32.2%±7.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #10 of 120 in NH | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Greenland School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | — | 13.2Lowest |
| 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.