Compare towns
Boscawen vs Middlesex vs Northfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Boscawen has the oldest population (median age 46).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Northfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Middlesex | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,044 |
1,943Lowest |
4,971Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46±4.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
42.6±5.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Boscawen and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boscawen and Middlesex 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Middlesex and Northfield 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 4% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$92,917±$15k 15% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $286,500±$23kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$288,500±$33k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,265±$307 10% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,076±$182Lowest 24% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,549Highest 110% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,097Lowest 63% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±21Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.1%±14.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boscawen and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 17%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 9.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #51 of 120 in NH | — | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.