Compare towns
Derry vs Hooksett vs Milford vs Springfield
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%).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Springfield has the oldest population (median age 51.4).
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 | Milford | Springfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,057 |
16,337 |
1,122Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
| Springfield 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%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.1%±8Lowest 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±1.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Springfield 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$100,893±$19k about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Derry 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 |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$384,100±$50kLowest 5% below NH |
| 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 |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$5,946Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield 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 | Milford School District | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | 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.