Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Jackson 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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
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 | Jackson | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
15,057 |
897Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest 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 |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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%±4 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest 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±$11k 19% above NH |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Jackson 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 |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,750±$1kHighest 17% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Jackson and Hooksett 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 |
$6,001Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Hampstead 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.4%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 |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson 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 |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Jackson 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 History | 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.