Compare towns
Candia vs Chester vs Hooksett 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).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Loudon has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Candia | Chester | Hooksett | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
5,300 |
15,057Highest |
5,692 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8 12% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester 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% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest 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% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
29.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$106,966±$16kLowest 8% above NH |
| Chester 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 |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$363,400±$48kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
— | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,321±$465 11% below NH |
| Hooksett and Loudon 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 |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,821Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Loudon and Hooksett 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Hooksett 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Chester School District | Hooksett School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.