Compare towns
Candia vs Deerfield vs Wakefield vs Chester
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).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k 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 | Wakefield | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
4,932 |
5,405Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8 12% above NH |
42.8±4.2Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Wakefield 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% |
20.9%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Deerfield and Chester 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% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Wakefield 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% |
47.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Candia and Chester 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±$10k 33% above NH |
$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Deerfield 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 |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,593±$318Highest 7% above NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
— |
| Deerfield and Wakefield 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 |
$7,369 11% above NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Chester and Deerfield 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% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
34 minLowest 28% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Chester 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Deerfield School District | Wakefield School District | Chester 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.