Compare towns
Barnstead vs Candia vs Loudon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Candia has the most expensive homes ($416k median).
Loudon has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
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 | Barnstead | Candia | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,134Lowest |
5,692Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
48.3±3.8 12% above NH |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
| Loudon and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
29.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH |
$106,966±$16kLowest 8% above NH |
| Candia and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$415,600±$46kHighest 3% above NH |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
| Candia and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,321±$465 11% below NH |
| Barnstead and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$6,100Highest 9% below NH |
$5,821Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
89.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
30 minLowest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead and Candia 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Candia School District | Merrimack Valley 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 |
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.