Compare towns
Derry vs Wolfeboro vs Epping 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 most kids (20.7% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Epping | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
6,571Lowest |
7,430 |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.1±3.5 4% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Epping 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 10% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Derry and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Epping and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$5,334 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #77 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Epping School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Kingswood Regional High School | Epping High School | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.1 |
9.3Lowest |
13.2 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.