Compare towns
Chester vs Candia vs Hooksett vs Raymond
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Raymond has the most affordable homes ($370k 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 | Chester | Candia | Hooksett | Raymond |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,300 |
4,134Lowest |
15,057Highest |
10,900 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43.4±3.8 about the NH average |
| Candia and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
26.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest 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 | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$104,597±$10kLowest 6% above NH |
| Chester and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$370,400±$17kLowest 8% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,376±$196 8% below NH |
| Hooksett and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,146 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±11.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Raymond are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±3.5Lowest 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #96 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | Candia School District | Hooksett School District | Raymond School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Raymond High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.2 |
| 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.