Compare towns
Derry vs Hooksett vs Kingston
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
5,876Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston 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% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest 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 | $108,944±$7kHighest 10% above NH |
$101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| Derry and Kingston 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 |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| Kingston 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 |
$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% 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 | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
72.5% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Derry and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | — | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 12.9Lowest |
| 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.