What stands out worked out from the figures below

Boscawen has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).

Stark has the most people working from home (13.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Boscawen	Stark
People
Population	4,044Highest	419Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-14%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46±4.2Lowest 6% above NH	58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH
Kids under 18	18.1%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2%	14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Boscawen and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.2%±5.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1%
	Stark 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	17.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6%	3.6%±4.7Highest NH: 6%
	Stark and Boscawen 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	$71,750±$23kLowest 28% below NH
	Boscawen and Stark 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	$197,700±$34kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,265±$307 15% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,549Highest about the NH average	$2,636Lowest 60% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2%	66.7%±100Highest NH: 48.2%
	Stark 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%	8.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.5%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1978Highest 1 yr older than NH	1968Lowest 11 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minLowest 4% above NH	34 minHighest 27% above NH
Work from home	9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8%	13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Stark 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	—
School district	Merrimack Valley School District	Stark School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.