Compare towns
Derry vs Hampstead vs Mapleton 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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Hampstead | Mapleton | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
9,102 |
1,884Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% 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%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Hampstead 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. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hampstead 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. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% 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 | $8,103 160% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 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 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hampstead School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | 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 History | None yet | 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.