Compare towns
Derry vs Hooksett vs Rochester
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 the highest household income ($118k).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Derry | Hooksett | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 21,339 |
15,057Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Rochester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Rochester 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.2%±2.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $91,673±$11k 7% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $391,200±$23k about the NH average |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,549±$137 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,278Highest 9% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.2%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.