Compare towns
Rochester vs Epping vs Derry
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).
Epping has the most people working from home (24%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Epping | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144 |
7,430Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 about the NH average |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Epping and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest 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+ | 19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Rochester 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% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest 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 | $80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above 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 | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Epping and Derry 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 |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Epping 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 |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 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 | 8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Epping School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | Epping High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2 |
9.3Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.