Compare towns
Hooksett vs Plainfield 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
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Plainfield has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Hooksett | Plainfield | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
2,522Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% 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%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Derry 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest 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 | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Plainfield and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Plainfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,904 19% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Hooksett 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% |
5.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Derry 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Plainfield 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 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.