Compare towns
Northfield vs Bow 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
Northfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Boscawen has the oldest population (median age 46).
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 | Bow | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971 |
8,335Highest |
4,044Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Bow 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±$15k 6% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33k 28% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,265±$307 15% below NH |
| Bow and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$6,549 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Boscawen and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Bow School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
— |
| 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.