Compare towns
Derry vs Hampstead vs Hanover
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 affordable homes ($432k median).
Hampstead has the most homeowners (82.1%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hampstead | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
9,102 |
8,479Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Hanover 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% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hampstead School District | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9 |
— | — |
| 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.