Compare towns
Rochester vs White River Junction 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 oldest population (median age 43).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Derry has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
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 | White River Junction | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144 |
3,364Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
40.3±1.6 4% above U.S. |
| 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%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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±$3k about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10k 16% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% 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 | $5,334Lowest 71% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derry and White River Junction 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 | — | 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.