Compare towns
Milford vs Derry vs Lyndeborough 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
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Derry has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Milford | Derry | Lyndeborough | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
34,116Highest |
1,616Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
50±3.2Highest 15% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest 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 | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$116,964±$17k 18% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$390,900±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Derry and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,482±$457Lowest about the NH average |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$7,133 7% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.9%±90 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
92.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
39 minHighest 46% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyndeborough 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.