Compare towns
Candia vs Orange vs Hooksett
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 the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Orange has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Orange | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
7,573 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.8±2.2 7% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Orange and Hooksett 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% |
20.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Candia and Orange 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% |
15.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett 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±$37kHighest 48% above U.S. |
$55,824±$10kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Candia and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,600±$46kHighest 25% above U.S. |
$245,900±$18kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Candia and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554 14% below U.S. |
$775±$233Lowest 45% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100 96% above U.S. |
$4,136Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±11.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Orange 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% |
22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
33 min 24% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett 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 | #275 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Orange · Ralph C Mahar | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ralph C Mahar Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| 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.