Compare towns
Candia vs Hooksett vs Jaffrey
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k 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 | Hooksett | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,448 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±3.9 about the NH average |
| Candia and Jaffrey 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% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Jaffrey 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% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$92,330±$18kLowest 7% below NH |
| Candia and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,600±$46kHighest 3% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
| Candia and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554 19% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
| Hooksett and Candia 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 |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$6,196 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Jaffrey 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Hooksett School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 21.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.