Compare towns
North Hampton vs Derry vs Hooksett vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | North Hampton | Derry | Hooksett | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
34,116Highest |
15,057 |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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 | $146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106Highest 21% above NH |
$1,547±$138Lowest 4% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529Highest 28% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Derry and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 min 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9 |
— | — |
| 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.



