Compare towns
Candia vs Ossipee vs Loudon vs Hooksett
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 homeowners (91.7%).
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
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 | Ossipee | Loudon | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
4,521 |
5,692 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8 12% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
49.5±3.2 14% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Ossipee and Loudon 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% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.7% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
29.3% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 21% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| 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 3% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| 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±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,321±$465 11% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Ossipee 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 |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$5,821 13% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Loudon 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% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
89.6% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
30 min 14% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #99 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.