Compare towns
Boscawen vs Canaan vs Meredith
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 affordable homes ($254k median).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
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 | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,044 |
3,811Lowest |
6,758Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±4.2 6% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith 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% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$87,019±$19kHighest 12% below NH |
| Meredith and Canaan 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,265±$307Highest 15% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Boscawen and Meredith 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 |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Meredith 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% |
7.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Canaan 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 | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
| 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.