Compare towns
Candia vs Deerfield vs Dover 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).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Dover has the most renters (47.3% rent).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Deerfield | Dover | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
4,932 |
33,364Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Candia and Deerfield 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% |
20.9%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield 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% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Deerfield 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% |
47.3% NH: 40.6% |
52%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Dover 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 |
$131,563±$10kHighest 33% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Deerfield 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 |
$421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$436,700±$20kHighest 8% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Dover and Deerfield 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 |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Dover 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 |
$7,369 11% above NH |
$8,249Highest 24% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Dover 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
34 min 28% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Dover 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #64 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Deerfield School District | Dover School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.7 |
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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.