Compare towns
Derry vs Milford vs Somersworth 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 highest household income ($109k).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Somersworth has the most renters (42.2% rent).
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 | Milford | Somersworth | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,337 |
12,111Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
31.4% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Somersworth 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 10% above NH |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
| Derry and Milford 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 |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23k 21% below NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Derry and Milford 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±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,477±$134 about the NH average |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Milford 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 |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Somersworth and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 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 |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Derry and Milford 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Milford School District | Somersworth School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Milford High School | Somersworth High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
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.