Compare towns
Milford vs Exeter 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
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
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 | Exeter | Hooksett | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
16,151 |
15,057Lowest |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
| Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
| Exeter and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Exeter and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,103 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Derry 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
12.1 |
— | 13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.