Compare towns
Candia vs Exeter vs Lee 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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Exeter | Lee | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,576 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Candia and Exeter 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Candia 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Lee 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Lee and Exeter 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
— | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Exeter and Hooksett 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 10 photos → | 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.