Compare towns
Boscawen vs Hanover 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).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.1%).
Northfield has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,044Lowest |
8,479Highest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
| Boscawen and Northfield 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% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield 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% |
17.6%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Hanover 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% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$288,500±$33k 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,265±$307 15% below NH |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,549 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #51 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | — | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school 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.