Compare towns
Rochester vs South Berwick 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).
South Berwick has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
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 | South Berwick | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144 |
3,381Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.4±6.2 6% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rochester and South Berwick 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% |
21.7%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.6%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and South Berwick 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% |
47.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.7Lowest 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 |
$90,972±$22k 13% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Derry and South Berwick 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. |
$396,700±$66k 19% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Derry and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72Lowest 3% below U.S. |
$1,702±$76Highest 20% above U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Derry 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. |
$4,523Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.7%±30.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Derry 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% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Highest 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 |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derry and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | — | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | — | 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 |
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.