Compare towns
Candia vs Manchester vs Chester
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 population (median age 48.3).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Chester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
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 | Manchester | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
115,643Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Candia and Chester 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% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Chester 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% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Manchester 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 |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester 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 |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,564±$37Highest 5% above NH |
— |
| Manchester and Candia 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 |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Chester 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Manchester 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.