Compare towns
Candia vs Hooksett vs Loudon vs Milton
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 most homeowners (91.7%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Loudon has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).
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 | Hooksett | Loudon | Milton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,692 |
4,538 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8 12% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
| Loudon and Candia 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% |
16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
18.4%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milton 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%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
29.3% NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8 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 |
$106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
$94,493±$27kLowest 5% 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 |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% 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 |
$1,321±$465 11% below NH |
$1,587±$318 6% above NH |
| Hooksett and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100 9% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,821 13% below NH |
$5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Loudon 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 14% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Milton 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 | #99 of 120 in NH | #116 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Hooksett School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Milton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Nute High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 10.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.