Boscawen

Merrimack Countyβ€’Merrimack Valleyβ€’Population: 3,998

Overview

Boscawen sits along the Merrimack River just north of Concord, combining a small historic village center with rural farmland. The town's proximity to the capital city has made it a practical, affordable option for Concord-area commuters.

The Merrimack River offers fishing and paddling access, while Boscawen's small downtown includes a handful of local businesses and civic buildings. The town's rural character remains intact away from the river corridor and Route 4 commercial strip.

Housing in Boscawen remains more affordable than Concord itself, drawing families and first-time buyers who want river access and a short commute to the capital. The town's modest size keeps services limited compared to Concord.

Pros & Cons

βœ“ Pros

  • β€’Near Concord
  • β€’Affordable
  • β€’River access
  • β€’Rural character

βœ— Cons

  • β€’Limited services
  • β€’No downtown
  • β€’Few amenities

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Boscawen.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$20.80
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$16.10
Equalization ratio: 77%
Municipal
$5.79
Local School
$12.25
State Education
$1.07
County
$1.69

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$20.80$16.10$5.79$12.25$1.07$1.69

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$5,200$433
$350,000$7,280$607
$500,000$10,400$867
$750,000$15,600$1,300
$1,000,000$20,800$1,733

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $20.80 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
79.8Β°F
Winter Avg High
35.1Β°F
Annual Snowfall
53.6 in
Annual Rainfall
48.3 in
Sunny Days/Year
264
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
77 mi
~95 min drive
Manchester
27 mi
~37 min drive
Portsmouth
69 mi
~87 min drive
Concord
10 mi
~17 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMap β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score
8/10
Crime Rate
9.5/1,000
Crime Trend
stable
Data source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/) β€’ Updated 8/12/2026

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
41/100
Trail Miles
18.1
0
Boat Launches
3
State Parks
3
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:14 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:3

Economy & Demographics

πŸ’°Income

Median Household Income
$84,292
Per Capita Income
$33,991
Median Family Income
$97,563

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$259,500
Median Rent
$1,111/mo
Homeownership Rate
76.52%

πŸ’ΌEmployment

Unemployment Rate
4.96%
In Labor Force
2,037

πŸŽ“Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
19.59%
Total with Degree
563

πŸ‘₯Demographics

Median Age
44.6 years
Avg Household Size
2.55 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year) β€’ Census Data Year: 2022 β€’ Updated 7/3/2026

Condo Communities in Boscawen

three registered condo associations β€” offering active low-maintenance living options.

Source: Merrimack County Audit - AI Discovery (data as of August 2026)

Compare Boscawen with Other Towns

See how Boscawen stacks up against other NH communities.