Compare towns
Keene 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
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Derry has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
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 | Keene | Hooksett | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
15,057Lowest |
21,339 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
41±3 5% 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 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8Highest 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+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$91,673±$11k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$391,200±$23k about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,549±$137 4% above NH |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,278Highest 9% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Keene School District | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.