Compare towns

Hampstead vs Plainfield vs Hooksett vs Derry

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Plainfield has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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.

MeasureHampsteadPlainfieldHooksettDerry
People
Population
9,102
1,314Lowest
15,057
34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
48.1±5.5Highest
24% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
40.3±1.6Lowest
4% above U.S.
Plainfield 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
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
20.7%±2.1
U.S.: 22%
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
U.S.: 17.2%
21.1%±3.5
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Hampstead and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
48.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
37.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.1%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
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
39% above U.S.
$69,250±$31kLowest
14% below U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$108,944±$7k
35% above U.S.
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
57% above U.S.
$318,400±$34kLowest
4% below U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$432,000±$17k
30% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,299±$149
8% below U.S.
$1,153±$103Lowest
18% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,547±$138
9% above U.S.
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
177% above U.S.
$4,806Lowest
54% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$8,103
160% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
73.2%±53.9Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.6%±9
U.S.: 51.1%
Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
70.2%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1955Lowest
25 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
14% above U.S.
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
Work from home
21%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±2.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampstead and Plainfield 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 Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District
High school 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

U.S. 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.