Compare towns
Candia vs Amherst vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Candia | Amherst | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
11,861 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Candia and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Amherst and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #41 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.