Compare towns
Derry vs Hooksett vs Lyndeborough 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
Derry has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Lyndeborough | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,057 |
1,616Lowest |
16,337 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Derry 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% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
40.1%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% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 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±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Lyndeborough 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±$26k about the NH average |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
| Derry and Hooksett 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%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 |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyndeborough 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 | — | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | — | 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.