Compare towns
Nashua 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
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
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 | Nashua | Hooksett | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 91,294Highest |
15,057Lowest |
34,116 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% 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 | 18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±1 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 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 | $96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% 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 | $403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
| Derry and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
| Nashua and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,799 about the NH average |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.8%±4.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.4%±1.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Nashua 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 | #67 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Nashua School District | Hooksett School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | Nashua High School South | None in town | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Lowest |
— | 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.