Compare towns
Candia vs Milton vs Townsend
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Candia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Milton | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
4,538 |
9,100Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Candia and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±5 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Candia and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Candia and Townsend 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 48% above U.S. |
$94,493±$27kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 25% above U.S. |
$318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 14% below U.S. |
$1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Milton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
$5,663Lowest 82% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
33 minLowest 26% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton and Candia 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Candia School District | Milton School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Nute High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.