Compare towns

Rochester vs Hooksett vs Derry vs Berwick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Berwick has the most people working from home (20.2%).

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.

MeasureRochesterHooksettDerryBerwick
People
Population
33,144Highest
15,057
21,339
8,175Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±1.8Highest
11% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
41±3
5% above U.S.
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
Rochester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
18.2%±1.7
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.9%±2.8
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Berwick 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
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
14.8%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Rochester and Hooksett 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
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
36.7%
U.S.: 35.7%
35%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.2%±2.2
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Derry 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
about the U.S. average
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$91,673±$11k
14% above U.S.
$94,771±$24k
17% above U.S.
Hooksett and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$279,100±$10kLowest
16% below U.S.
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$391,200±$23k
18% above U.S.
$369,100±$19k
11% above U.S.
Hooksett 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
3% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,549±$137
10% above U.S.
$1,452±$430
about the U.S. average
Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,334
71% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$7,278Highest
133% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±7
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
54.7%±9.5Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
Derry and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
59.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
29 min
11% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
11.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Berwick 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 #30 of 120 in NH #60 of 120 in NH #101 of 133 in ME
School district Rochester School District Hooksett School District — RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town Spaulding High School None in town — None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.2
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On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.