Compare towns
Hooksett vs Derry vs Rochester
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 people working from home (16%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
34,116Highest |
33,144 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
| Rochester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Rochester 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% |
19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest 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 | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Derry and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,369±$72Lowest 8% below NH |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rochester 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Derry and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
13.2Lowest |
| 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.