Compare towns
Derry vs Rochester vs Bow
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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Rochester | Bow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
33,144 |
8,335Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
41.5±2 4% below NH |
| Rochester and Bow 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% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow 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% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Bow 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 10% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
| Derry and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Rochester School District | Bow School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Spaulding High School | Bow High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
13.2 |
12.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.