Compare towns
Milford 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,337 |
15,057Lowest |
21,339Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
41±3 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8 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%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2 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±$14k about the NH average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
| Hooksett and Milford 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 |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Milford 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,549±$137Lowest 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522Highest 13% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,278 9% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5Highest 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Milford 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.