Compare towns

Rochester vs Winthrop 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%).
Winthrop has the most people working from home (23.1%).
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.

MeasureRochesterWinthropDerry
People
Population
33,144
6,191Lowest
34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+0.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±1.8
11% above U.S.
43.6±5.3Highest
12% above U.S.
40.3±1.6Lowest
4% above U.S.
Winthrop 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%
22.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
Winthrop 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%
23.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Winthrop 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%
40%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
3.5%±2.4Lowest
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
$86,470±$4k
7% above U.S.
$108,944±$7kHighest
35% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$279,100±$10kLowest
16% below U.S.
$294,800±$41k
11% below U.S.
$432,000±$17kHighest
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,369±$72
3% below U.S.
$892±$319Lowest
37% 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.
$3,506Lowest
12% above U.S.
$8,103Highest
160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.8%±22.4
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Derry and Winthrop 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%
12.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
31 min
17% above U.S.
Work from home
11.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.1%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Winthrop 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 #12 of 133 in ME #60 of 120 in NH
School district Rochester School District Winthrop Public Schools Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school in town Spaulding High School Winthrop High School Pinkerton Academy
Students per teacherat that high school
13.2
11.7Lowest
13.9Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.