Compare towns
Derry vs Rochester vs Rye vs Hooksett
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 kids (20.7% under 18).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Rye | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
33,144 |
5,611Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett 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±$7k 10% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Rye and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,781±$156Highest 19% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Rye and Hooksett 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Rochester School District | Rye School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Spaulding High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
13.2Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.