Compare towns
Derry vs Hooksett vs Sandown vs Salem
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%).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Salem has the oldest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Sandown | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
15,057 |
6,628Lowest |
30,964 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
44.6±2.7Highest 3% above NH |
| Salem 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% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salem 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% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±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±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Sandown and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett 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 |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$6,992 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Salem 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | — | 11.2Lowest |
| 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.