Compare towns
Bow vs Chester vs Candia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the most people working from home (22.7%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Candia has the most affordable homes ($416k 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 | Bow | Chester | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,335Highest |
5,300 |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Candia and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$119,737±$37kLowest 21% above NH |
| Bow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$415,600±$46kLowest 3% above NH |
| Chester and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
— | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Bow and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Chester 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 | #26 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Bow School District | Chester School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | Bow High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8 |
— | — |
| 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.