Compare towns
Canaan vs Bartlett vs Boscawen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Boscawen has the most kids (18.1% under 18).
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 | Canaan | Bartlett | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
3,281Lowest |
4,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
57.4±4.7Highest 33% above NH |
46±4.2 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5Highest 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+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.1%±9.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bartlett and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH |
$59,754±$9kLowest 40% below NH |
$77,328±$27k 22% below NH |
| Canaan and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$371,400±$78kHighest 8% below NH |
$286,500±$23k 29% below NH |
| Bartlett and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,676±$97Highest 12% above NH |
$1,265±$307 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$6,549Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
68.5%±37.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
79%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Bartlett 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | #74 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Bartlett School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
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| 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.