Compare towns

Derry vs Rochester vs Concord

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).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).

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.

MeasureDerryRochesterConcord
People
Population
34,116
33,144Lowest
44,375Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3.6%
NH: +4.6%
+9.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
40.3±1.6Lowest
7% below NH
43±1.8Highest
about the NH average
40.7±1.3
6% below NH
Rochester and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.7%±2.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
18.2%±1.7
NH: 18.2%
17.2%±1.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Derry and Rochester 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%
18.7%±1.5
NH: 20.1%
Rochester and Concord 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%
42.3%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.5Highest
NH: 6%
4.3%±1Lowest
NH: 6%
6%±0.8
NH: 6%
Derry and Concord 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
$80,836±$3kLowest
18% below NH
$84,902±$5k
14% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$432,000±$17kHighest
7% above NH
$279,100±$10kLowest
31% below NH
$350,900±$13k
13% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,547±$138Highest
4% above NH
$1,369±$72Lowest
8% below NH
$1,441±$43
3% below NH
Derry and Concord 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
$5,334Lowest
20% below NH
$7,227
8% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
51.6%±9Highest
NH: 48.2%
46.3%±7
NH: 48.2%
44.1%±5.2Lowest
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%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
8.3%
NH: 7.2%
8.9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
70.2%Highest
NH: 72.8%
66%
NH: 72.8%
56.8%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
4 yrs newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1969Lowest
10 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
16% above NH
26 min
about the NH average
23 minLowest
14% below NH
Work from home
16%±2.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
11.8%±2.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
14.1%±1.8
NH: 16.8%
Derry and Concord 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 #89 of 120 in NH
School district Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District Rochester School District Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town Pinkerton Academy Spaulding High School Concord High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.9Highest
13.2
13.0Lowest
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.