Compare towns
Boscawen vs Pittsfield vs Thornton
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).
Pittsfield has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Thornton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.8%).
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 | Pittsfield | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,044 |
4,105Highest |
2,799Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±4.2 6% above NH |
41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Thornton and Boscawen 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% |
20.8%±6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
18.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Thornton 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% |
22.7% NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Highest NH: 6% |
| Thornton and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,328±$27k 22% below NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
$90,022±$17kHighest 9% below NH |
| Thornton and Boscawen 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 |
$294,800±$30k 27% below NH |
$351,900±$20kHighest 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,265±$307 15% below NH |
$1,239±$182Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,270±$428Highest 15% below NH |
| Thornton and Boscawen 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 |
$5,694 15% below NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield 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% |
11.3% NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #51 of 120 in NH | #93 of 120 in NH | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Pittsfield School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pittsfield High School | 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.