Compare towns
Derry vs Hooksett vs Bow vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
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 | Bow | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,057 |
8,335Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.5±2Highest 4% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Bow and Hooksett 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Milford 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bow 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest 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 |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,539±$178Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Milford 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Bow School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Bow High School | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 12.8 |
10.7Lowest |
| 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.