Compare towns
Candia vs Hooksett vs Keene
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
15,057 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Keene 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Keene 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% 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 |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% 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±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Hooksett 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Hooksett School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| 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.