Compare towns
Derry vs Rochester vs Windham
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).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
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 | Windham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
33,144 |
16,038Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
| Rochester and Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Windham 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% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Rochester 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 |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Derry 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 15% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Rochester School District | Windham School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Spaulding High School | Windham 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.