Compare towns
Derry vs Acton vs Concord vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Acton has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
Concord has the most renters (43.2% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Acton | Concord | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116 |
2,721Lowest |
44,375Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
52.9±4.2Highest 36% above U.S. |
40.7±1.3 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 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+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.2%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.7%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest 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 | $108,944±$7k 35% above U.S. |
$78,750±$15kLowest about the U.S. average |
$84,902±$5k 5% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above 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 | $432,000±$17kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$334,300±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$350,900±$13k 5% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above 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 | $1,547±$138 9% above U.S. |
— | $1,441±$43Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above 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 | $8,103Highest 160% above U.S. |
$2,680Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$7,227 132% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±5.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Acton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
56.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 17% above U.S. |
40 minHighest 53% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Acton and Derry 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 | #43 of 133 in ME | #89 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Acton Public Schools | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Concord High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 13.0Lowest |
— |
| 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.