Compare towns
Charleston vs Hooksett vs Braintree vs Derby
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Charleston has the most homeowners (87.1%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Derby has the oldest housing (typical home built 1978).
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 | Charleston | Hooksett | Braintree | Derby |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 936Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,026 |
4,537 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
51.6±2.1 33% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Derby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.2%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$80,250±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $238,000±$53k 28% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$225,000±$10k 32% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $979±$444 31% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,096±$118 22% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,750 20% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,908 25% above U.S. |
$3,449Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.7%±26.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.8%±18.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Derby and Braintree are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.7%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Braintree and Charleston 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #52 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Charleston School District | Hooksett School District | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Derby School District · North Country Union Junior High School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.