Compare towns
Rochester vs New Boston 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).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
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 | New Boston | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144 |
6,165Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% 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% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston 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% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and New Boston 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% |
44.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest 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±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| New Boston and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% 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 | $5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$8,181Highest 23% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rochester 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% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88%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 |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | New Boston School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Lowest |
— | 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.