Compare towns
Boscawen vs Barnstead vs Northfield
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 oldest population (median age 46).
Barnstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7%).
Northfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,044Lowest |
4,994Highest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Boscawen and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Northfield 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% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest 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% |
23.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Barnstead and Northfield 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 |
$92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
| Barnstead and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
$362,400±$25kHighest 10% below NH |
$288,500±$33k 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,265±$307 15% below NH |
$1,395±$75Highest 6% below NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% 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 |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Barnstead and Boscawen 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% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Barnstead and Boscawen 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 | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Barnstead School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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.