Compare towns
Boscawen vs Canaan vs Farmington
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Farmington has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
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 | Farmington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,044 |
3,811Lowest |
6,795Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±4.2 6% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
49.1±7.1Highest 13% above NH |
| Farmington 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%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.1%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Boscawen and Farmington 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% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.5% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,328±$27k 22% below NH |
$81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH |
$66,943±$4kLowest 32% 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±$23k 29% below NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$289,200±$47kHighest 28% below NH |
| Farmington and Boscawen 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±$90 24% below NH |
$1,096±$110Lowest 26% 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 |
$4,723Lowest 29% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±16 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Farmington 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% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
11.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
77.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
29 min 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.5%±5.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Farmington 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 | #106 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Farmington School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Farmington Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
5.5Lowest |
| 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.