Compare towns
Deerfield vs Madbury vs Candia vs Northwood
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Deerfield | Madbury | Candia | Northwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Highest |
2,203Lowest |
4,134 |
4,688 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
| Candia and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
| Candia and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$119,737±$37kLowest 21% above NH |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
| Madbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33k 5% above NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
| Madbury and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318Highest 7% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,213±$554 19% below NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
| Deerfield and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 11% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Northwood and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 28% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Deerfield and Northwood 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | — | #41 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Candia School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.