Compare towns

Allenstown vs Northwood vs Charlestown

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Allenstown has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Northwood has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% under 18).

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.

MeasureAllenstownNorthwoodCharlestown
People
Population
4,743
4,688Lowest
4,889Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.9%
NH: +4.6%
+9.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
-6%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
39.4±4.7Lowest
9% below NH
42.4±7.8Highest
about the NH average
41.6±8.5
4% below NH
Northwood and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
19.9%±4.5
NH: 18.2%
18%±4.4Lowest
NH: 18.2%
22.4%±5.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
Charlestown and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
16.4%±3.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.5%±5.2
NH: 20.1%
22.4%±5.2Highest
NH: 20.1%
Charlestown and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
19.7%
NH: 40.6%
38.9%Highest
NH: 40.6%
12.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
0.7%±0.7Lowest
NH: 6%
3.8%±2
NH: 6%
3.9%±3.2Highest
NH: 6%
Charlestown and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$72,500±$21k
27% below NH
$129,375±$23kHighest
31% above NH
$47,338±$23kLowest
52% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$243,600±$69k
39% below NH
$363,000±$13kHighest
10% below NH
$228,000±$62kLowest
43% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,281±$397Highest
14% below NH
$1,201±$372
19% below NH
$1,099±$85Lowest
26% below NH
Allenstown and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,098Lowest
39% below NH
$5,806Highest
13% below NH
$5,143
23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
57.8%±29.8
NH: 48.2%
23.7%±29.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
65%±24.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
Charlestown and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
11.9%
NH: 7.2%
7.5%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
14.8%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.9%
NH: 72.8%
89%Highest
NH: 72.8%
78.5%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1981Highest
2 yrs newer than NH
1970Lowest
9 yrs older than NH
1977
2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below NH
37 minHighest
37% above NH
24 minLowest
10% below NH
Work from home
7.6%±3.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
18.7%±6.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
7.6%±4.5Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading — #24 of 120 in NH #113 of 120 in NH
School district Allenstown School District Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town None in town Coe-Brown Northwood Academy None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.5
—
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.