Compare towns
Derry vs Lee vs Rochester 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 youngest population (median age 40.3).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Lee | Rochester | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
4,576Lowest |
33,144 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Rochester and Lee 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Rochester 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest 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 |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Lee and Derry 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 |
— | $1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Rochester School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
— | 13.2Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.