Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hillsborough vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.6%).
Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
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 | Hampstead | Hillsborough | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
5,980Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
40.9±4.6 6% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hampstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Derry and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Hampstead and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,547±$138Highest 4% above NH |
| Derry and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$5,815Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hillsborough and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
92.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 13% above NH |
41 minHighest 54% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #97 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hillsboro-Deering High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.5Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| 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.