Compare towns
Boscawen vs Lancaster vs Winchester
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%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Winchester has the youngest population (median age 42.6).
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 | Lancaster | Winchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,044 |
3,216Lowest |
4,212Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
42.6±4.5Lowest about the NH average |
| Boscawen and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±4.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Winchester 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster 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% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Lancaster and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,328±$27kHighest 22% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
$67,723±$11kLowest 32% below NH |
| Boscawen and Lancaster 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$242,900±$20k 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,265±$307Highest 15% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,209±$143 19% below NH |
| Boscawen and Winchester 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 |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,314 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45%±17.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Winchester 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% |
16.7% NH: 7.2% |
14.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
72.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lancaster and Boscawen 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #120 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Winchester School District |
| High school in town | None 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.