Compare towns
Litchfield vs Candia vs Nashua vs East Merrimack
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
East Merrimack has grown the fastest since 2010 (+23.3%).
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 | Litchfield | Candia | Nashua | East Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,499 |
4,134Lowest |
91,294Highest |
5,081 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+23.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH |
41.1±6.1 5% below NH |
| Candia and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
13.1%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.9%±1 NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and East Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
42% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
5%±0.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Candia and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
$96,326±$5k about the NH average |
$87,311±$5kLowest 12% below NH |
| Litchfield and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
$403,900±$11k about the NH average |
$291,500±$30kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,737±$41 16% above NH |
$1,952±$158 31% above NH |
| Litchfield and East Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,273Highest 24% above NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
$6,799 about the NH average |
$4,652Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2 NH: 48.2% |
33.2%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
1.4% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6 NH: 16.8% |
21.2%±5.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| East Merrimack and Litchfield 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 | #53 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH | #67 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Litchfield School District | Candia School District | Nashua School District | — |
| High school in town | Campbell High School | None in town | Nashua High School South | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.