Compare towns
Candia vs Plaistow vs Manchester
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).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Manchester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).
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 | Plaistow | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
7,861 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
40.1±3.7 7% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Manchester 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%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Plaistow 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% |
34.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Manchester 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 |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Candia and Plaistow 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 |
$404,500±$32k about the NH average |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Candia and Plaistow 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 |
$1,664±$187Highest 12% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Plaistow and Manchester 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 |
$7,194Highest 8% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Plaistow and Manchester 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% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 29% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Manchester and Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.