Compare towns
Durham vs Derry 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Derry | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,681Lowest |
34,116Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% 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 | 6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above 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 | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.4%±19.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Derry and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | — | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— |
| 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.