Compare towns
Derry vs Nelson 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 most expensive homes ($432k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
648Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Rochester and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Rochester 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 |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Derry and Nelson 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 |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Derry and Rochester 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 |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 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% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | — | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Nelson 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 History | 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.