Compare towns
Rochester vs Derry vs Farmington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Derry has the most expensive homes ($391k median).
Farmington has the most homeowners (77.7%).
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 | Rochester | Derry | Farmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
21,339 |
6,795Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.9% NH: +4.6% |
-0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 about the NH average |
41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
49.1±7.1Highest 13% above NH |
| Farmington and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Farmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1% NH: 40.6% |
36.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest 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 | $80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
$91,673±$11kHighest 7% below NH |
$66,943±$4kLowest 32% below NH |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$391,200±$23kHighest about the NH average |
$289,200±$47k 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH |
$1,096±$110Lowest 26% below NH |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334 20% below NH |
$7,278Highest 9% above NH |
$4,723Lowest 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±16Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.5%±5.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Farmington 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #106 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | — | Farmington School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | — | Farmington Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
— | 5.5Lowest |
| 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.