Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Derry vs Pelham
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 the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
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 | Hooksett | Derry | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
15,057 |
34,116Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Hampstead and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 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 | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Hampstead 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.9Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.