Compare towns
Northwood vs New Boston vs Sanbornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
New Boston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Sanbornton has the shortest commute (31 min average).
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 | Northwood | New Boston | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,688 |
6,165Highest |
3,053Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.4±7.8Highest about the NH average |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
41.9±5.4 3% below NH |
| Northwood and Sanbornton 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% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Northwood and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$113,750±$41kLowest 15% above NH |
| New Boston and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
| New Boston and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,201±$372 19% below NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,289±$198Highest 14% below NH |
| Sanbornton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,806 13% below NH |
$8,181Highest 23% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.7%±29.2 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sanbornton and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
85.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 37% above NH |
36 min 33% above NH |
31 minLowest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston and Northwood 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | New Boston School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
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| 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.