Compare towns
Sandown vs Hooksett vs Hampstead 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
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hampstead has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Sandown | Hooksett | Hampstead | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,628Lowest |
15,057 |
9,102 |
21,339Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41±3 5% below NH |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
36.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest 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 | $135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$391,200±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,549±$137 4% above NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$7,278 9% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Hampstead 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.