Compare towns
Candia vs New Boston vs Barnstead
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).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
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 | New Boston | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
6,165Highest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Candia and Barnstead 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% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Barnstead 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% |
17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Barnstead 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% |
44.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Barnstead 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 |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$111,660±$12kLowest 13% above NH |
| New Boston 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 |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| New Boston and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554 19% below NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
| Barnstead 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 |
$8,181Highest 23% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and New Boston 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% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
88%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston and Barnstead 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | New Boston School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.