Compare towns
Canterbury vs Boscawen vs Thornton vs Loudon
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the most expensive homes ($444k median).
Boscawen has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
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 | Canterbury | Boscawen | Thornton | Loudon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,353Lowest |
4,044 |
2,799 |
5,692Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
46±4.2Lowest 6% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
49.5±3.2 14% above NH |
| Thornton and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Boscawen and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
29.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
| Canterbury and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21kHighest 10% above NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,321±$465 11% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421Highest 11% above NH |
$6,549 about the NH average |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,821 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
89.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 min 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Canterbury 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #99 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Thornton School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.