Compare towns
Rochester vs Windham 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).
Windham has the most homeowners (84.6%).
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 | Windham | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144 |
19,188Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest 11% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8 7% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Rochester and Windham 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% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Windham 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% |
15.9%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rochester and Windham 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% |
44.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±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±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$108,944±$7kHighest 35% above U.S. |
| Derry and Windham 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. |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% 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. |
$3,938Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7Lowest 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 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% |
19%±4.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Windham 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 | #95 of 133 in ME | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | RSU 14 | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | Windham High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2 |
12.1Lowest |
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.