Compare towns
Milford vs Nelson 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
Milford has the youngest population (median age 36.8).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Derry has the most expensive homes ($432k median).
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 | Nelson | Derry | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337 |
648Lowest |
34,116Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Nelson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Milford 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% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest 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 | $97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% 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 | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$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 |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | Nelson School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | 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.