Derry
RANK #842 / 996 NAT · POP 315,169
1YR FORECAST: +1.3%
5YR OUTLOOK: +14%
Rockingham County, New Hampshire, stands out for its 18 miles of Atlantic coastline, the shortest ocean coastline of any U.S. state. Located in the southeastern part of New Hampshire, it borders Massachusetts to the south and Maine to the northeast. Portsmouth, a historic seaport, was one of New Hampshire's first European settlements. The county offers a mix of rural, suburban, and coastal environments. Commuting to Boston, Massachusetts, is feasible, with a mean travel time for county residents around 28.9 minutes. Outdoor recreation opportunities include beaches like Hampton Beach and Wallis Sands, as well as multi-use rail trails such as the Rockingham Recreational Rail Trail for hiking, biking, and snowmobiling. Life in Rockingham County often appeals to families, with public schools generally performing above average. The county is considered among the healthiest in New Hampshire. The economy is supported by various sectors, including ongoing investments in data centers, energy infrastructure, and industrial and logistics operations. The Regional Economic Development Center of Southern New Hampshire (REDC) focuses on economic development planning for the area.
Above national median (4.7x)
Below national median
Moderate climate & terrain
Above national median (13x)
Housing is fairly valued at 5.2x relative to local economic output. The typical U.S. county is 4–6x.
Estimated local headcount ranges. Larger employers shown as floor + "+"; smaller employers show exact counts where reported.
Source: Redfin · Census BPS — Browse sales on Redfin →
Source: CDC/NCHS vital statistics via County Health Rankings (2020–2022 avg). Rates per 100,000 population. Grade based on homicide rate relative to national average (~6.3). Learn more →
Source: EPA Air Quality System (2021–2023). Grade based on 3-year average median AQI. Learn about AQI →
| PROJECT | AMOUNT | STATUS |
|---|---|---|
|
AI Data Center (Former Unifi Building)
White Fiber
|
$500M | Under Construction |
|
Rockingham 100 MW Solar Project
Undisclosed
|
$100M | Planned |
|
Rockingham County Municipal Building & Solar Array
Rockingham County
|
$77M | Under Construction |
|
Seabrook Station Nuclear Power Plant License Extension
NextEra Energy
|
— | Operating |
Source: public records, news, corporate announcements. Amounts are estimates where noted.
Bars show percentile rank among all 996 counties.
The data is not encouraging — Rockingham County scores just 15/100 on the Boom Town Index, ranking #842 of 996 counties. Job growth at +1.5% and median household income of $110,225 reflect an economy that has been contracting or stagnating relative to the rest of the country.
Housing in Rockingham County is roughly in line with national affordability norms. The median home costs $424,100 and the income-to-home-value ratio sits at 0.26, with rents averaging $1,518/month. Not a bargain, but not a stretch for most local earners either.
Rockingham County is growing on multiple fronts. Population is up +0.8% year-over-year while employers added jobs at a +1.5% clip. Home values shifted +2.8% in the past year.
Not particularly — 1.67% of Rockingham County's population moved in from another state, which is below the national average. Most residents are long-term locals rather than recent transplants.