Compare towns
Candia vs South Hooksett vs Hooksett vs Chester
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).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k 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 | South Hooksett | Hooksett | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
5,902 |
15,057Highest |
5,300 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Candia and Chester 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% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester 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 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Chester 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% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and South Hooksett 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 |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— |
| Hooksett and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and South Hooksett 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 29% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Hooksett 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | — | Hooksett School District | Chester 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 | 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.