Compare towns
Meredith 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
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Meredith | Hooksett | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758Lowest |
15,057 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest 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+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest 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 | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above 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 | $480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Meredith and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,547±$138 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 | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 13.9Highest |
| 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.