Compare towns
Lee vs Hooksett vs Candia vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Lee | Hooksett | Candia | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,576 |
15,057Highest |
4,134 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Candia and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest 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 | $131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Lee and Madbury 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 |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Hooksett and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 45% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #3 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | Candia School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 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.