Compare towns
Exeter vs Northwood vs Candia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
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 | Exeter | Northwood | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,688 |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.4±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
18%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Northwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
| Northwood and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
| Exeter and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,213±$554 19% below NH |
| Exeter and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #24 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.