Compare towns
Hampstead vs Merrimack 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%).
Merrimack has the highest household income ($127k).
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 | Merrimack | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
28,164 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hampstead and Merrimack 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% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack 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% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Merrimack 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% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest 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±$18k 13% above NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Merrimack 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 |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$7,345Lowest 10% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 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 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Merrimack School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Merrimack High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5Lowest |
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.