Compare towns
Derry vs Ogunquit vs Stratham 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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Ogunquit | Stratham | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,379Lowest |
7,754 |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Stratham and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36k 97% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 160% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ogunquit and Stratham 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 | — | #43 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 | 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.