Compare towns
Merrimack vs Derry vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Merrimack has the most people working from home (21%).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Merrimack | Derry | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164 |
34,116Highest |
15,057Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest 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+ | 50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest 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 | $127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Merrimack and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345 10% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
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.