Compare towns
Derry vs Milford vs North Hampton 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
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
North Hampton has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Milford | North Hampton | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,337 |
4,543Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| North Hampton 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 |
$7,522 13% above NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 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% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #60 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Milford School District | North Hampton School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Milford High School | None in town | None in town |
| 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.