What stands out worked out from the figures below

Middleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).

Northfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Middleton	Northfield
People
Population	1,595Lowest	4,971Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+2.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	43.5±5.7Highest about the NH average	42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average
	Middleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.9%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2%	20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%
	Northfield and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.9%±2Highest NH: 20.1%	17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Middleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.4%Lowest NH: 40.6%	23.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.2%±1.9Lowest NH: 6%	5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
	Northfield and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,696±$8kHighest about the NH average	$92,917±$15kLowest 6% below NH
	Middleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$312,300±$27kHighest 22% below NH	$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH
	Middleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,500±$293Highest about the NH average	$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH
	Middleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,504Highest 17% below NH	$5,097Lowest 24% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2%	24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Middleton and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	5.8%Lowest NH: 7.2%	8.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	96.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH	1979Lowest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	39 minHighest 45% above NH	26 minLowest 4% below NH
Work from home	14.1%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%	6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Middleton and Northfield 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	—	#109 of 120 in NH
School district	Middleton School District	Winnisquam Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.