Compare towns
Candia vs Auburn vs Milton 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
Candia has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Milton has the most affordable homes ($318k 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 | Candia | Auburn | Milton | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
6,119Highest |
4,538 |
5,692 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8 12% above NH |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
45.7±2.4 6% 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 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Milton 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% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4 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+ | 27.7% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
29.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn 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 |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$94,493±$27kLowest 5% below NH |
$106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
| Auburn 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 |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
$1,321±$465 11% below NH |
| Auburn and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100 9% below NH |
$8,092Highest 21% above NH |
$5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
$5,821 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Loudon 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% |
2.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
30 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Milton 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 | #41 of 120 in NH | #44 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Auburn School District | Milton School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Nute High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.6 |
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| 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.