Compare towns

Hampstead vs Stratham vs Hooksett 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 oldest population (median age 45.3).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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.

MeasureHampsteadStrathamHooksettDerry
People
Population
9,102
7,754Lowest
15,057
34,116Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+5.6%
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+3.6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45.3±6.1Highest
5% above NH
41.6±4.9
4% below NH
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
40.3±1.6Lowest
7% below NH
Hampstead and Stratham 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%
23.5%±5.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
20.7%±2.1
NH: 18.2%
Stratham 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%
20.6%±3.6
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
15.2%±1.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Hampstead and Stratham 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%
69.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
37.4%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.1%±1.6
NH: 6%
3.9%±1.7Lowest
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6Highest
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
$151,998±$20kHighest
53% above NH
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
$108,944±$7kLowest
10% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$521,100±$45k
29% above NH
$655,400±$36kHighest
63% above NH
$407,000±$26kLowest
about the NH average
$432,000±$17k
7% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,299±$149Lowest
13% below NH
$2,511±$377Highest
68% above NH
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
$1,547±$138
4% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,634
30% above NH
$9,781Highest
47% above NH
$6,554Lowest
about the NH average
$8,103
22% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±20.2
NH: 48.2%
64%±38.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
51.6%±9
NH: 48.2%
Stratham 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%
2.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%
NH: 72.8%
92.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
80.6%
NH: 72.8%
70.2%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1988Highest
9 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
27 min
about the NH average
31 minHighest
16% above NH
Work from home
21%±4.7
NH: 16.8%
25.3%±6.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
16%±2.8
NH: 16.8%
Stratham 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 #43 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH #60 of 120 in NH
School district Hampstead School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District 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 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.