Compare towns
Candia vs Townsend vs Hollis
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 most affordable homes ($416k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
Hollis has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
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 | Townsend | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,134Lowest |
9,100Highest |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.3±3.8 24% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 23.1%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hollis 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
57.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.7%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Candia and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $119,737±$37kLowest 48% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22kHighest 109% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $415,600±$46kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,213±$554Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302Highest 13% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Townsend 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±19.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Hollis 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 30% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.8%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #41 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Candia School District | North Middlesex | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.8Lowest |
| 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.