Compare towns
Hampstead vs Reading 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 expensive homes ($521k median).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
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.
| Measure | Hampstead | Reading | Hooksett | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
699Lowest |
15,057 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%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. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.3±1.6Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Reading 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% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest 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%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%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% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest 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. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above 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. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% 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. |
$5,754Lowest 84% 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% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading 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% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest 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. |
1969Lowest 11 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. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16%±2.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Hooksett 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 |
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.