Compare towns
Kensington 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
Kensington has the most expensive homes ($658k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% 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 | Kensington | Hooksett | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,009Lowest |
15,057 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.3±5.9Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kensington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest 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+ | 18.8%±2.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Kensington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.3Lowest 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 | $165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Kensington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 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 | 1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 7% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.2%±3.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Kensington 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 | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Kensington School District | Hooksett 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.