Compare towns
Derry vs Goffstown vs Hooksett vs South Hooksett
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 kids (20.7% under 18).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Goffstown | Hooksett | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
18,513 |
15,057 |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
41.3±3.1Highest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Goffstown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
| Goffstown and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
| South Hooksett and Hooksett 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 |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$433,200±$40kHighest 8% above NH |
| South Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| 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 22% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,801 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown 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% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Derry and Goffstown 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 | #35 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Goffstown High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.6Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.