Compare towns
Candia vs Durham vs Hooksett 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 population (median age 48.3).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Chester has the highest household income ($142k).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hooksett | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
15,080Highest |
15,057 |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8 9% 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%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Chester 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Chester and Durham 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— |
| Hooksett and Durham 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.