Compare towns
Rochester vs Plainfield 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%).
Plainfield has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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 | Plainfield | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144 |
2,522Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Derry 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Plainfield 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.