Compare towns
Northfield vs Bellows Falls vs Boscawen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the highest household income ($93k).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Boscawen has the most people working from home (9.9%).
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 | Northfield | Bellows Falls | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971Highest |
2,891Lowest |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1 10% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
46±4.2Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Boscawen and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±5.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Boscawen and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
20.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$77,328±$27k 4% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$286,500±$23k 14% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182 24% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,265±$307Highest 10% below U.S. |
| Boscawen and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097 63% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,549Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±21 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Bellows Falls and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
17% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
9.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boscawen 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 | — | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | — | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.