Compare towns
Milton vs Hooksett vs Wakefield 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 people working from home (18.9%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Wakefield has the most homeowners (96.8%).
Candia has the most expensive homes ($416k median).
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 | Hooksett | Wakefield | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,538 |
15,057Highest |
5,405 |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±2.4 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
48.3±3.8 12% above NH |
| Wakefield and Candia 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% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Candia and Wakefield 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% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
27.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 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 | $94,493±$27kLowest 5% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
$119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH |
| Candia and Hooksett 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$322,800±$43k 20% below NH |
$415,600±$46kHighest 3% above NH |
| Candia and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,587±$318 6% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Hooksett and Milton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,663 15% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.7%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milton and Hooksett 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Milton and Wakefield 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milton School District | Hooksett School District | Wakefield School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | Nute High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.6 |
— | — | — |
| 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.