Compare towns
Derry vs Hooksett vs Durham
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Hooksett | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,057Lowest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest 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%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Derry 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham 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±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% 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 | $8,103 22% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.