Compare towns
Candia vs Lee vs Loudon vs Hooksett
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 housing (typical home built 1979).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Loudon has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Lee | Loudon | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
4,576 |
5,692 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8 12% above NH |
42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below 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% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Lee 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
29.3% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest 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±$37k 21% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$106,966±$16kLowest 8% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Lee 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 3% above NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$363,400±$48kLowest 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Lee 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 19% below NH |
— | $1,321±$465 11% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Loudon 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,821Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Loudon 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% |
2.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
28 min about the NH average |
30 min 14% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #41 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #99 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 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.