Compare towns
Wakefield vs Bow 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
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Candia has the oldest housing (typical home built 1979).
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 | Wakefield | Bow | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405 |
8,335Highest |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below 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 | 18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest 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+ | 26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Candia and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$119,737±$37k 21% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434 8% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Bow and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Bow and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
34 min 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Bow School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.