What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northwood has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).

Charlestown has the most affordable homes ($228k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northwood	Charlestown
People
Population	4,688Lowest	4,889Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6%	-6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.4±7.8Highest about the NH average	41.6±8.5Lowest 4% below NH
	Northwood and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.4%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Charlestown and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.5%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	22.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Charlestown and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	38.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	12.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6%	3.9%±3.2Highest NH: 6%
	Charlestown and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH	$47,338±$23kLowest 52% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$363,000±$13kHighest 10% below NH	$228,000±$62kLowest 43% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,201±$372Highest 19% below NH	$1,099±$85Lowest 26% below NH
	Northwood and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,806Highest 13% below NH	$5,143Lowest 23% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	65%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2%
	Charlestown and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	7.5%Lowest NH: 7.2%	14.8%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	89%Highest NH: 72.8%	78.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	37 minHighest 37% above NH	24 minLowest 10% below NH
Work from home	18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8%	7.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Northwood and Charlestown 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	#24 of 120 in NH	#113 of 120 in NH
School district	Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	Coe-Brown Northwood Academy	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.