Compare towns
Canterbury vs Bow vs Northfield
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 oldest population (median age 48.6).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k median).
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 | Bow | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,353Lowest |
8,335Highest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
| Canterbury and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Canterbury and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH |
| Bow and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421 11% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Bow 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% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.5% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | — | #26 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | Bow School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.