Compare towns
Derry vs Keene vs Rochester vs Concord
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).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Keene | Rochester | Concord |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116 |
22,939Lowest |
33,144 |
44,375Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
40.7±1.3 6% below NH |
| Rochester and Concord 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.2%±1.3 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Keene 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% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
$84,902±$5k 14% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$279,100±$10k 31% below NH |
$350,900±$13k 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,441±$43 3% below NH |
| Derry and Concord 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 |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$7,227 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rochester 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
56.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Derry and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #89 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Keene School District | Rochester School District | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Keene High School | Spaulding High School | Concord High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.3Lowest |
13.2 |
13.0 |
| 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.