Compare towns
Canterbury vs Epping 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
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Boscawen has the most affordable homes ($287k 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 | Epping | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,353Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
46±4.2 6% above NH |
| Canterbury and Boscawen 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% |
18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Boscawen 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% |
22.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest 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% |
37% NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Epping 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 |
$104,220±$7k 5% above NH |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Canterbury and Epping 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 |
$436,900±$35k 9% above NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
| Canterbury and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,742±$576 17% above NH |
$1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH |
| Canterbury and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421Highest 11% above NH |
$6,936 4% above NH |
$6,549Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Epping 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
28 minLowest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | — | #77 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | Epping School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.3 |
— |
| 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.