Compare towns
Canterbury vs Plainfield 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 most people working from home (21.6%).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Plainfield | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,353Lowest |
2,522 |
4,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5Lowest 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% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield 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 |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Canterbury and Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
| Canterbury and Plainfield 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 |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
$1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421 11% above NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$6,549Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Boscawen 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% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury and Plainfield 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 | — | #19 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | Plainfield School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.