Compare towns
Durham vs Hooksett vs Candia vs Plymouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Plymouth has the most affordable homes ($292k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Hooksett | Candia | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
15,057 |
4,134Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Durham and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,213±$554 19% below NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Hooksett and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,288 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | Candia School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.