Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Candia vs Sandown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hooksett has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Candia has the oldest population (median age 48.3).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
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 | South Hooksett | Candia | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902 |
4,134Lowest |
6,628Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Candia and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$119,737±$37kLowest 21% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
| Sandown and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$415,600±$46kLowest 3% above NH |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
| Sandown and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801 about the NH average |
$6,100Lowest 9% below NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown 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 | — | #41 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Candia School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.