Compare towns
Derry vs Hooksett vs Nelson
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 renters (29.8% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,057 |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average |
| Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Derry 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% 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 |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Hooksett 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.