Compare towns
Milton vs Hardwick vs Candia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milton has the most people working from home (18.9%).
Hardwick has the most renters (31.8% rent).
Candia has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.7%).
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 | Hardwick | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,538Highest |
2,684Lowest |
4,134 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4 17% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Lowest 16% above U.S. |
48.3±3.8Highest 24% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hardwick and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.1%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.1%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Candia and Hardwick 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hardwick 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±$27k 17% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$119,737±$37kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Candia and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $318,400±$34kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$415,600±$46kHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Candia and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318Highest 12% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,213±$554 14% below U.S. |
| Milton and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,663 82% above U.S. |
$4,400Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$6,100Highest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±21.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Milton and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 26% above U.S. |
31 minLowest 18% above U.S. |
34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Milton and Candia 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milton School District | Quabbin | Candia School District |
| High school in town | Nute High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.