Compare towns
Derry vs Windham vs South 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 renters (29.8% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
South Hooksett has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Windham | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 34,116Highest |
16,038 |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
41.1±2.9Highest 5% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Windham 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Windham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,103 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Windham and Derry 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Windham School District | — |
| High school in town | Pinkerton Academy | Windham High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.9Highest |
12.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.