Compare towns
Candia vs Litchfield vs Hooksett vs Loudon
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%).
Litchfield has the most people working from home (21%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Loudon has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Litchfield | Hooksett | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
8,499 |
15,057Highest |
5,692 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8 12% above NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
49.5±3.2Highest 14% 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% |
22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield 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% |
14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
29.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest 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 |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$106,966±$16kLowest 8% above NH |
| Litchfield 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 |
$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$363,400±$48kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,321±$465 11% below NH |
| Litchfield and Hooksett 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 |
$8,273Highest 24% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,821Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4% NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89.6% 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 |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Litchfield 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 | #53 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Litchfield School District | Hooksett School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Campbell High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4 |
— | — |
| 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.