Compare towns
Candia vs Barnstead 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 most expensive homes ($416k median).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
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 | Barnstead | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
4,994 |
5,692Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8 12% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
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% |
21%±5Highest 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+ | 23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
29.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest 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 | $119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% 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 | $415,600±$46kHighest 3% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below 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 | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% 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 | $6,100Highest 9% below NH |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$5,821Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest 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 | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
30 minLowest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Highest 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 | #41 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Barnstead 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.