Compare towns
Derry vs Sturbridge vs Rochester
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).
Sturbridge has the highest household income ($137k).
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Sturbridge | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
9,960Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
47.2±2.6Highest 21% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Sturbridge 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% |
20.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sturbridge 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% |
49.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Sturbridge 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 35% above U.S. |
$136,759±$15kHighest 69% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$425,800±$18k 28% above U.S. |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Derry and Sturbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$1,193±$398Lowest 16% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$6,520 109% above U.S. |
$5,334Lowest 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42%±17.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 43% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sturbridge 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 | #89 of 282 in MA | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Sturbridge · Tantasqua | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Tantasqua Regional Sr High | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
7.7Lowest |
13.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.