Compare towns
Derry vs Rochester vs Williston
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).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
33,144 |
10,144Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Williston 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% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Williston 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 35% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
| Derry and Williston 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. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 9% above U.S. |
$1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$5,334Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Rochester School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Spaulding High School | 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 |
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.