Compare towns
Candia vs Milton vs Wakefield
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 expensive homes ($416k median).
Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
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 | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
4,538 |
5,405Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8 12% above NH |
45.7±2.4Lowest 6% above NH |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
| Wakefield 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% |
18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield 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 NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Candia and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH |
$94,493±$27kLowest 5% below NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
| Candia and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,600±$46kHighest 3% above NH |
$318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
| Milton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Highest 9% below NH |
$5,663 15% below NH |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
33 minLowest 25% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Milton and Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Milton School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Nute High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.6 |
— |
| 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.