Compare towns
Derry vs Hooksett vs Alton
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 people working from home (16%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Alton has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
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 | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,057 |
5,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest 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%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest 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±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Hooksett and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Derry and Alton 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest 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 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Derry and Hooksett 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 | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.