Compare towns
Northfield vs Walpole vs Pittsfield 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 highest household income ($93k).
Walpole has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Pittsfield has the most people working from home (11.6%).
Boscawen has the most homeowners (75.3%).
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 | Pittsfield | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,971Highest |
3,690Lowest |
4,105 |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-0.8% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH |
41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
46±4.2 6% above NH |
| Walpole and Boscawen 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%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6 NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Walpole and Pittsfield 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% |
18.7%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Walpole and Boscawen 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% |
32.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
22.7% NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4%±2.8 NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Northfield and Pittsfield 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 6% below NH |
$82,617±$16k 17% below NH |
$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH |
$77,328±$27k 22% below NH |
| Northfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33k 28% below NH |
$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH |
$294,800±$30k 27% below NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
| Walpole and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,165±$150 22% below NH |
$1,239±$182 17% below NH |
$1,265±$307Highest 15% below NH |
| Boscawen and Pittsfield 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 |
$6,078 9% below NH |
$5,694 15% below NH |
$6,549Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±21.9 NH: 48.2% |
67.5%±27.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
| Pittsfield and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.7% NH: 7.2% |
11.3% NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.9% NH: 72.8% |
68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1978 1 yr 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 |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
11.6%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Pittsfield and Boscawen 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 | #93 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Pittsfield School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Pittsfield High School | None in town |
| 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.