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 Boscawen, NH   
NH cities/towns
Community Contact Town of Boscawen
Katie Phelps, Town Administrator
116 North Main Street
  Boscawen, NH 03303
 
Telephone (603) 753-9188 x2317
Fax (603) 753-9184
E-mail kphelps@boscawennh.gov
Web Site www.boscawennh.gov
 
Municipal Office Hours Town Administrator: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9-5; Wednesday 10-6; Town Clerk/Tax Collector: Monday to Wednesday, 8:30-4:30, Thursday, 8:30-5:30; Planning: Monday to Thursday, 8:30-4:30
 
County Merrimack County
Labor Market Area Concord, NH Micropolitan NECTA
Tourism Region Merrimack Valley Region
Planning Commission Central NH Regional Planning
Regional Development Capital Regional Development Council
 
Election Districts
US Congress District 2
Executive Council District 2
State Senate District 7
State Representative Merrimack County Districts 1, 26
Incorporated: 1760
 
Origin: This community was originally granted in 1732 as Contoocook, after the river of the same name. In 1760, the town was incorporated as Boscawen, in honor of an English admiral, Edward Boscawen, who fought under General Amherst in the conquest of Canada. Admiral Boscawen was responsible for the capture of the fortress at Louisbourg, Nova Scotia. The Contoocook Fort on the Merrimack, one of the first log forts constructed for protection against the Indians, was built here in 1739. In July 1997, the New Hampshire State Veterans Cemetery was established by legislature in Boscawen on 104 acres previously used as a state forest.
 
Villages and Place Names: unknown
 
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1108 residents in 1790
 
Population Trends: Population change for Boscawen totaled 783 over 50 years, from 3,162 in 1970 to 3,945 in 2020. The largest decennial percent change was a nine percent increase from 1970 to 1980; and by eight percent from 1990 to 2000 and 2000 to 2010. The town's population declined by one percent from 2010 to 2020.
 
Population Density and Land Area: 2023 (US Census Bureau): 161.8 persons per square mile of land area. Boscawen contains 24.9 square miles of land area and 0.5 square miles of inland water area.
 
 
 


Municipal Services
Type of Government Select Board
Budget:Municipal Appropriations,2024 $4,917,675
Budget:School Appropriations,2023 $5,310,699
Zoning Ordinance 1973/2024
Master Plan 2021
Capital Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board/CNHRPC
 
Boards and Commissions
    Elected: Selectboard; Library; Town Clerk; Cemetery; Trust Funds; Treasurer
    Appointed: Planning; Zoning; Budget; Conservation; Parks & Recreation; energy; Beautification; Economic Development; Agriculture; Police Advisory
 
Public Library Boscawen Public



Emergency Services
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Part-time & volunteer
Emergency Medical Service Paid on-call
 
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Concord Hospital, Concord 8 miles   236


 
Utilities
Electric Supplier Eversource; Unitil; Boscawen Community Power
Natural Gas Supplier Liberty Utilities
Water Supplier Penacook/Boscawen Precinct
 
Sanitation Private septic & municipal
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
    Curbside Trash Pickup None
    Pay-As-You-Throw Program No
    Recycling Program Voluntary
 
Telephone Company AT&T; Consolidated; Comcast
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station No
High Speed Internet Service: Business Limited
High Speed Internet Service: Resident Limited
 


Property Taxes (NH Dept. of Revenue Administration)
2023 Total Tax Rate $19.43
2023 Equalization Ratio 100.9
2023 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1000 of value) $19.54
 
2023 Percent of Local Assessed Valuation by Property Type
    Residential Land and Buildings 83.2%
    Commercial Land and Buildings 14.0%
    Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other 2.8%

 
Housing (ACS 2018-2022)
Total Housing Units 1,434
 
Single-Family Units,Detached or Attached 973
 
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:
    Two to Four Units in Structure 124
    Five or More Units in Structure 148
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 189




Population(1-Year Estimates/Decennial) (US Census Bureau)
Total Population Community County
   2023 4,029   157,103
   2020 3,945   153,808
   2010 3,966   146,445
   2000 3,668   136,225
   1990 3,407   120,240
   1980 3,435   98,302

 
Demographics American Community Survey (ACS 2018-2022)
Population by Gender
Male   1,971 Female   2,021
Population by Age Group
      Under Age 5 217
      Age 5 to 19 726
      Age 20 to 34 623
      Age 35 to 54 1,010
      Age 55 to 64 474
      Age 65 and over 942
            Median Age 44.6 years


Educational Attainment, population age 25 or older 2,874
      High school graduation or higher 91.9%
      Bachelor's degree or higher 24.1%
 
Income, Inflation Adjusted $   (ACS 2018-2022)
Per Capita Income $33,991
Median Family Income $97,563
Median Household Income $84,292
 
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
      Male $63,897
      Female $49,980
 
Individuals below poverty level 9.5%
 
Labor Force   (NHES - ELMI)

Annual Average 2013 2023
    Civilian Labor Force 1,902   1,911
    Employed 1,802   1,873
    Unemploymed 100   38
    Unemployment rate 5.3%   2.0%

 
Employment & Wages   (NHES-ELMI)
Annual Average Covered Employment 2013 2023
Good-Producing Industries  
    Average Employment  271  384
    Average Weekly Wage  $1,012  $1,370
 
Service-Providing Industries  
    Average Employment  386  370
    Average Weekly Wage  $842  $1,016
 
Total Private  
    Average Employment  657  754
    Average Weekly Wage  $912  $1,196
 
Government(Federal, State, Local)  
    Average Employment  762  537
    Average Weekly Wage  $717  $1,045
 
Total, Private Industry plus Government  
    Average Employment  1,418  1,291
    Average Weekly Wage  $808  $1,133
 
If "n" appears, data do not meet disclosure standards.




Education and Child Care NH Department of Education, 2023
Schools Students Attend: Grades K-12 are part of Merrimack Valley Regional (Andover, Boscawen, Loudon, Penacook, Salisbury, Webster) District: SAU 46
Career Technology Center: Concord Regional Technical Center
 
Educational Facilities(includes Charter Schools) Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 1
Grade Levels P K 1-5
Total Enrollment 236
       
Nearest Community/Technical College: NHTI-Concord
Nearest College or Universities: New England; UNH School of Law; Granite State

2023 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (DHHS-Bureau of Child Care Licensing)   Total Facilities:     2   Capacity:     95

Largest Businesses Product/Service Employees Established
Merrimack County Nursing Home & Jail Nursing home, correctional facility 481 1800
Elektrisola, Inc. Copper magnet wire 223 1976
Ross Express Trucking firm 60 1947
Kentek Laser Safety Eyeware 41 1983
Alan's Restaurant Restaurant & catering 34 1984
KSD Custom windows, doors 27 1989
Town of Boscawen Municipal services 24 1733
VCA Riverside Veterinary Hospital Veterinary Services 24 1988
Huckleberry Propane & Oil Home Heating Services 24 2001
Black Forest Nursery Plants and Landscaping Services 29 1976
 
Employer Information Supplied by Municipality
 
Transportation (distance estimated from city/town hall)
Road Access US Routes: 3, 4
Nearest Interstate/Exit: I-93, Exit 17
Distance: 2 miles
 
Railroad Boston & Maine
Public Transportation CAT Concord Laconia Connector
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
    Concord Municipal Runway  6,005 ft. asphalt
    Lighted?  Yes Navigation Aids?  Yes
 
Nearest Airport With Scheduled Service
    Manchester-Boston Regional Distance   29 miles
    Number of Passenger Airlines Serving Airport 4
 
Driving distance to select cities:
    Manchester, New Hampshire 25 miles
    Portland, Maine 118 miles
    Boston, Massachusetts 76 miles
    New York City, New York 272 miles
    Montreal, Quebec, Canada 249 miles
 
Commuting To Work (ACS 2018-2022)
Workers 16 years of age and over
  Drove alone, car/truck/van: 83.5%
  Carpooled, car/truck/van: 5.8%
  Used Public Transportation: 0.0%
  Walked: 0.6%
  Traveled by other means: 0.6%
  Worked at home: 9.6%
Mean Travel Time to Work: 31.7 minutes
 
Work in community of residence: 70.7%
Commute to other NH community: 25.9%
Commute out-of-state: 3.4%
Recreation, Attractions, Events
X Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
Golf Courses
Swimming: INDOOR FACILITY
Swimming: OUTDOOR FACILITY
X Tennis Courts: Indoor Facility
X Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
X Museums
Cinemas
X Performing Arts Facilities
X Tourist Attractions
X Youth Organizations (ie Scouts and 4-H)
X Youth Sports: Baseball
X Youth Sports: Soccer
X Youth Sports: Football
X Youth Sports: Basketball
Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
X Fishing/Hunting
X Boating/Marinas
X Snowmobile Trails
X Bicycle Trails
X Cross Country Skiing
X Beach or Waterfront Recreation Areas
Overnight or Day Camps

Nearest Ski Areas: Gunstock
 
Other: Hannah Dustin Memorial; River Canoeing; NH State Veterans Cemetery; Merrimack County Facilities; Seasonal farm stands; Community Garden; Rail Trail