Compare towns
Derry vs Lebanon vs Milford vs Hooksett
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).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Lebanon | Milford | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
14,999Lowest |
16,337 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% 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%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon 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% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Lebanon 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 |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| 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 |
$385,400±$29kLowest 4% below NH |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k 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±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Lebanon and Milford 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 |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
64.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Lebanon School District | Milford School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Lebanon High School | Milford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
11.7 |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.