Compare towns
Derry vs Walden 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 most expensive homes ($432k median).
Walden has the most people working from home (21.4%).
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 | Walden | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
1,037Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Walden 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15k 9% above U.S. |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Derry and Walden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% 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. |
$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden and Derry 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden 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 |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 13.2Lowest |
| 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.