Compare towns
Derry vs Methuen 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 people working from home (16%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
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 | Methuen | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116 |
53,475Highest |
33,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
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%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Methuen 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. |
$113,310±$7kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Methuen 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±$17k 30% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Methuen 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. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Methuen 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derry and Methuen 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Methuen | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Methuen High | 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 |
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.