Compare towns
Boscawen vs Unity vs Canaan
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%).
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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.
| Measure | Boscawen | Unity | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,044Highest |
1,375Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±4.2 6% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 18.1%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Boscawen and Canaan 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% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Unity 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
21.6% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
| Unity and Canaan 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 |
$276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Boscawen and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,265±$307 15% below NH |
$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Unity 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 |
$5,394Lowest 19% below NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
40%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan 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% |
6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minLowest 4% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan 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 | — | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Unity School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.