Compare towns
Hooksett vs Derry vs Hanover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hooksett | Derry | Hanover |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
34,116Highest |
8,479Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
| Hanover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | — |
| High school 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 |
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.