Compare towns
Unity vs Northfield vs Charlestown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).
Northfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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.
| Measure | Unity | Northfield | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,375Lowest |
4,971Highest |
4,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
41.6±8.5Lowest 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Charlestown and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.6% NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
12.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Northfield and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
$92,917±$15kHighest 6% below NH |
$47,338±$23kLowest 52% below NH |
| Northfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $276,100±$29k 31% below NH |
$288,500±$33kHighest 28% below NH |
$228,000±$62kLowest 43% below NH |
| Northfield and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,099±$85 26% below NH |
| Unity and Charlestown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,394Highest 19% below NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$5,143 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
65%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Charlestown and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
14.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.5%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
7.6%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Unity 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 | — | #109 of 120 in NH | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Unity School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.