Compare towns
Derry vs Rochester vs Dover
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 the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% 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.
| Measure | Derry | Rochester | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
33,144Lowest |
33,364 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| 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%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8Lowest 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Dover 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% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Dover and Derry 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 |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Derry 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 |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,607±$100Highest 8% above NH |
| Dover and Derry 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 |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Dover 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Dover 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 | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Rochester School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Spaulding High School | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
13.2 |
12.7Lowest |
| 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.