Compare towns
Derry vs Windham vs Exeter vs Rochester
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).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Windham | Exeter | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,038Lowest |
16,151 |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham and Exeter 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Windham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Windham High School | Exeter High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
13.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.