Compare towns
Northfield vs Walpole vs Bow vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Bow has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Northfield | Walpole | Bow | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,971 |
3,690Lowest |
8,335Highest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Walpole and Canaan 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% |
22.2%±5.2 NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Walpole 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% |
25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
32.9% NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Bow 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 |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33k 28% below NH |
$319,800±$48k 21% below NH |
$506,500±$34kHighest 26% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
$1,539±$178Highest 3% above NH |
$1,140±$90 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$6,078 9% below NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Walpole 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% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow and Canaan 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 | #27 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bow School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Bow High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.8Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.