Compare towns
Derry vs Lebanon vs White River Junction 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 most kids (20.7% under 18).
Lebanon has the most people working from home (22.8%).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Rochester has the oldest population (median age 43).
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 | Lebanon | White River Junction | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
14,999 |
3,364Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
38.9±3.1 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Derry 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% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lebanon 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% |
57.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lebanon 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±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$98,147±$10k 22% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$80,836±$3k about the U.S. average |
| Derry and Lebanon 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. |
$385,400±$29k 16% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,744±$132Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
| Lebanon and Derry 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. |
$8,149Highest 161% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,334Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
66% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
14 minLowest 47% below U.S. |
15 min 42% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Lebanon School District | — | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Lebanon High School | — | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.7Lowest |
— | 13.2 |
| 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.