Compare towns
Danby vs Derry vs Hooksett vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Derry has the most people working from home (16%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Danby | Derry | Hooksett | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
34,116Highest |
15,057 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Derry and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Danby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Derry and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Derry and Hooksett 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 | — | #60 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— | — |
| 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.