Compare towns
Boscawen vs Canterbury vs Thornton vs Webster
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 affordable homes ($287k median).
Canterbury has the most expensive homes ($444k median).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Canterbury | Thornton | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,044Highest |
2,353 |
2,799 |
2,227Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±4.2 6% above NH |
48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH |
| Thornton and Canterbury 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% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster 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% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Canterbury 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% |
49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
30.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Thornton 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 |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
| Canterbury and Webster 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 |
$443,700±$21kHighest 10% above NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,396±$622 6% below NH |
| Canterbury and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,549 about the NH average |
$7,421Highest 11% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,021 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Thornton 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% |
5.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
9.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
31 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Canterbury 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Shaker Regional School District | Thornton School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.