What stands out worked out from the figures below

New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).

Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.

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

Measure	New Boston	Northwood
People
Population	6,165Highest	4,688Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	+9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH	42.4±7.8Highest about the NH average
	Northwood and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2%	18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	New Boston and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1%	21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Northwood and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	44.4%Highest NH: 40.6%	38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6%	3.8%±2Highest NH: 6%
	Northwood and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH	$129,375±$23kLowest 31% above NH
	New Boston and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH	$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH	$1,201±$372Highest 19% below NH
	Northwood and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,181Highest 23% above NH	$5,806Lowest 13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2%	23.7%±29.2Highest NH: 48.2%
	Northwood and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	7.5%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88%Lowest NH: 72.8%	89%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	36 minLowest 33% above NH	37 minHighest 37% above NH
Work from home	22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8%	18.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8%
	New Boston and Northwood 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	#21 of 120 in NH	#24 of 120 in NH
School district	New Boston School District	Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District
High school in town	None in town	Coe-Brown Northwood Academy
Students per teacherat that high school	—	11.5
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.