Compare towns
Derry vs Hooksett vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Derry | Hooksett | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339Highest |
5,876Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3 5% below NH |
42.6±2Highest about the NH average |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$101,053±$25kHighest about the NH average |
$97,768±$14k about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k about the NH average |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$398,800±$20kHighest about the NH average |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278 9% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Milford 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 | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | — | Milford School District |
| High school in town | — | — | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.