Compare towns
Rochester vs Laconia 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Laconia has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Derry has the highest household income ($109k).
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 | Laconia | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144 |
17,085Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 about the NH average |
45.3±3.9Highest 5% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Laconia 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% |
18.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Laconia 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% |
22.8%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Laconia 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% |
27.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest 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 |
$73,218±$12kLowest 26% below NH |
$108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$340,300±$16k 15% below NH |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,224±$107Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above 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 |
$4,484Lowest 33% below NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.5%±10.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Laconia and Derry 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% |
12.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Derry and Laconia 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 | #105 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Laconia School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | Laconia High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2 |
10.0Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| 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.