Compare towns

Londonderry vs Hooksett vs Manchester vs Merrimack

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Londonderry has the most expensive homes ($505k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Merrimack has the most kids (22% 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.

MeasureLondonderryHooksettManchesterMerrimack
People
Population
26,685
15,057Lowest
115,643Highest
28,164
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7%
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
+4.5%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
42.7±0.9Highest
about the NH average
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
38±1Lowest
12% below NH
41.5±2.2
4% below NH
Londonderry and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20.6%±2.1
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
18%±1
NH: 18.2%
22%±2.5Highest
NH: 18.2%
Merrimack and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.4%±1.9
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±0.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
16.8%±1.8
NH: 20.1%
Hooksett and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
47.6%
NH: 40.6%
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
34%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
50.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.8%±1Lowest
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
6.4%±0.7
NH: 6%
5.1%±1.2
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$132,556±$14kHighest
34% above NH
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
$81,007±$2kLowest
18% below NH
$127,219±$16k
28% above NH
Londonderry and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$505,200±$20kHighest
26% above NH
$407,000±$26k
about the NH average
$365,600±$7kLowest
9% below NH
$458,600±$15k
14% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,803±$154
21% above NH
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
$1,564±$37Lowest
5% above NH
$1,932±$147Highest
30% above NH
Merrimack and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,069Highest
21% above NH
$6,554
about the NH average
$5,922Lowest
11% below NH
$7,345
10% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
48.9%±7.8
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4
NH: 48.2%
50%±3.6Highest
NH: 48.2%
34.9%±9.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
Manchester and Londonderry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%
NH: 7.2%
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
85.6%
NH: 72.8%
80.6%
NH: 72.8%
48.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
88.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1986
7 yrs newer than NH
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
1966Lowest
13 yrs older than NH
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
7% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
24 minLowest
10% below NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
22.8%±2.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
14.1%±1.3
NH: 16.8%
21%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
Londonderry and Merrimack 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 #37 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH #115 of 120 in NH #58 of 120 in NH
School district Londonderry School District Hooksett School District Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District Merrimack School District
High school in town Londonderry Senior High School None in town Manchester Memorial High School Merrimack High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.0Lowest
—
14.3Highest
12.5
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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.