Compare towns
Derry vs Hooksett vs Rochester vs White River Junction
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 kids (20.7% under 18).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Rochester has the oldest population (median age 43).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | Rochester | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,057 |
33,144 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rochester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 35% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| 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 9% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
| 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 160% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,334Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derry and White River Junction 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Rochester School District | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | 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 |
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.