Compare towns
Derry vs Hooksett vs Pembroke 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 most expensive homes ($432k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Pembroke | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,057 |
7,438Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.9±3.3 3% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Rochester and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Hooksett 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% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.2% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Derry 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 |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Hooksett 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±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Derry and Hooksett 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Hooksett and Derry 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,589 14% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #85 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Pembroke School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Pembroke Academy | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 13.1Lowest |
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.