What stands out worked out from the figures below

Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).

Merrimack has the most people working from home (21%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Candia	Merrimack
People
Population	4,134Lowest	28,164Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH	41.5±2.2Lowest 4% below NH
Kids under 18	12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2%	22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1%	16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	50.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6%	5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Candia and Merrimack 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	$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH
	Merrimack 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±$46kLowest 3% above NH	$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH
	Merrimack 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	$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,100Lowest 9% below NH	$7,345Highest 10% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2%	34.9%±9.4Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2%	3%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	88.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest same as NH	1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	34 minHighest 29% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#41 of 120 in NH	#58 of 120 in NH
School district	Candia School District	Merrimack School District
High school in town	None in town	Merrimack High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	12.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.