Compare towns
Candia vs Hooksett 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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
15,057Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Candia and Hooksett 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% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$37k 48% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kLowest 46% 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±$46k 25% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Townsend 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. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Candia School District | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1 |
| 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.