Compare towns
Rochester vs Derry vs Barrington
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 expensive homes ($432k median).
Barrington has the most homeowners (87%).
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 | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144 |
34,116Highest |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Rochester and Derry 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% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington 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% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Barrington 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% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
42.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Barrington 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 |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$110,323±$14kHighest 11% above NH |
| Barrington and Derry 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 |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
| Derry and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Derry 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 |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Barrington 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 | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Lowest |
13.9Highest |
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| 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.