Compare towns
Hooksett vs Candia vs Milford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Candia | Milford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
4,134Lowest |
16,337Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest 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+ | 39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3Lowest 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 | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
| Candia and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$415,600±$46kHighest 3% above NH |
$398,800±$20kLowest about the NH average |
| Candia and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Milford 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Candia School District | Milford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Milford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.7 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.