Compare towns
Candia vs Holbrook vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Holbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Holbrook | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
11,380Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2 10% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Candia and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Candia and Holbrook 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Candia and Holbrook 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 48% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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±$46kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Holbrook and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554 14% below U.S. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313Highest 4% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100 96% above U.S. |
$6,105Highest 96% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minLowest 30% above U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Holbrook and Candia 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Candia School District | Holbrook | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Holbrook Middle High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.