Compare towns
Boscawen vs Barnstead vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boscawen has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Boscawen | Barnstead | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,044 |
4,994Highest |
3,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Boscawen and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $286,500±$23k 29% below NH |
$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,265±$307 15% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Barnstead and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,549Highest about the NH average |
$6,003 10% below NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Barnstead 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 | #51 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Barnstead School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.