Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Epsom 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 the most people working from home (21%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Epsom has the most affordable homes ($338k 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 | Hooksett | Epsom | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
15,057 |
4,939Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.9% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
47.1±3.4Highest 9% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Epsom and Hampstead 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%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4.9 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Epsom 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% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 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±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$97,941±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$338,400±$19kLowest 16% below NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,212±$437Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% 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 | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,210Lowest 7% below NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.2%±19.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Epsom 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% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 15% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±4.3Lowest 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #69 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Epsom School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 13.9 |
| 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.