Compare towns
Rochester vs Sharon 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Sharon has the most homeowners (79.7%).
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 | Sharon | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144 |
1,577Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7Highest 17% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Sharon 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 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,547±$138Highest 9% above U.S. |
| Derry and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,903 89% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derry and Sharon 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 | — | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Sharon 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 History | None yet | None yet | 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.