What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has the most kids (20.3% under 18).

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Northfield	Washington
People
Population	4,971Highest	1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average	55±4.7Highest 27% above NH
Kids under 18	20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%	13.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Northfield and Washington 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%	29%±3Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	32%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	4.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Northfield and Washington 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	$89,453±$12kLowest 10% below NH
	Northfield and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH	$358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH	$1,106±$160Highest 26% below NH
	Washington and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,097Highest 24% below NH	$4,321Lowest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.1%±14.1Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Northfield and Washington 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%	8.7%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Lowest same as NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	36 minHighest 33% above NH
Work from home	6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±5.3Highest NH: 16.8%
	Washington 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	—
School district	Winnisquam Regional School District	Washington School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.