Compare towns
Derry vs Hooksett vs Atkinson vs Rochester
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 (+10.6%).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Atkinson | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,057 |
7,267Lowest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Rochester 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% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
4.3%±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±$7k 10% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Atkinson 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | — | 13.2Lowest |
| 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.