Compare towns
Rochester vs Saco vs Derry
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).
Saco has the most people working from home (19%).
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 | Saco | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144 |
20,819Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Highest 15% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Saco and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Rochester 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% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Saco 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% |
43.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Derry and Saco 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 |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Derry and Saco 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. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Derry and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
| 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 71% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derry and Saco 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Saco Public Schools | 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 History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
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.