Compare towns
Milton vs Derry 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
Milton has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Derry has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.6%).
Candia has the highest household income ($120k).
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 | Milton | Derry | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538 |
34,116Highest |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.4%±5 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±3.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Derry and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,493±$27kLowest 5% below NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH |
| Candia and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest 21% below NH |
$432,000±$17kHighest 7% above NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
| Derry and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318Highest 6% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Milton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,663Lowest 15% below NH |
$8,103Highest 22% above NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
70.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Milton and Derry 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 | #116 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milton School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | Nute High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6Lowest |
13.9Highest |
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| 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.