Compare towns
Candia vs Litchfield vs Pelham
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 affordable homes ($416k median).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Pelham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.3%).
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 | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
8,499 |
14,449Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Candia and Litchfield 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% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Pelham 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% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Highest NH: 6% |
| Pelham 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±$37kLowest 21% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,600±$46kLowest 3% above NH |
$485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,425±$88 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,273 24% above NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Pelham 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% |
3.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Litchfield 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 | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Litchfield School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Campbell High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.