Compare towns
Candia vs Chester vs Strafford
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 affordable homes ($416k median).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Strafford has the youngest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
5,300Highest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
46.3±2.1Lowest 7% 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 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Strafford 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%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Strafford 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% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Candia and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,737±$37kLowest 21% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Chester and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,600±$46kLowest 3% above NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
— | $1,635±$246Highest 10% above NH |
| Strafford and Candia 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 |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Chester 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 29% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Chester School District | Strafford 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.