Compare towns
Boscawen vs Canaan vs Dorchester
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 most kids (18.1% under 18).
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
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 | Canaan | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,044Highest |
3,811 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 46±4.2 6% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Boscawen and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Boscawen 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% |
28.2% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH |
— |
| Canaan and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $286,500±$23kHighest 29% below NH |
$254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Boscawen and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,265±$307Highest 15% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
— |
| Boscawen and Canaan 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 |
$5,985 10% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Dorchester 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — |
| High school 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.