Compare towns
Rochester vs Derry vs Pelham
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 the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Pelham has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
21,339 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Rochester and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Derry 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% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.7% NH: 40.6% |
40%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$91,673±$11k 7% below NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$391,200±$23k about the NH average |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,549±$137Highest 4% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Derry and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$7,278 9% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 10% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #98 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | — | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | — | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.