Compare towns
Derry vs Exeter 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
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
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 | Exeter | Hooksett | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,151 |
15,057Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 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+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest 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 | $108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.1 |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.