Compare towns
Sandown vs South Hooksett vs Derry vs Plaistow
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%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Derry has the most renters (29.8% rent).
Plaistow has the most affordable homes ($405k 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 | Sandown | South Hooksett | Derry | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,628 |
5,902Lowest |
34,116Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7Highest 6% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
| Sandown and Derry 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% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plaistow and Derry 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% |
37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.4% NH: 40.6% |
34.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Sandown and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Sandown and South Hooksett 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 |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Sandown and Plaistow 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 |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Plaistow 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
31 min 16% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | — | #60 of 120 in NH | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | — | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Pinkerton Academy | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.9Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.