Compare towns
Derry vs Hampton Beach 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).
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
2,605Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest 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±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Hampton Beach and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Derry and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,115 8% below NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Derry 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | — | 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 |
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.