The Town FilesNorthfield, New Hampshire
Town in Merrimack County · population 4,872 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $288,500
- Household income
- $92,917
- Jan low / Jul high
- 9° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 67 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 4
- Median age
- 42.6
Northfield is a town of 4,872 people in Merrimack County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $288,500, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks easier by car than 89% of New Hampshire towns, more vibrant than 75% of New Hampshire towns.
How Northfield ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Northfield is worth $288,500, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $92,917, which is more affordable than 88% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,076 a month. 71.6% of households own their home.
| Housing | Northfield | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $288,500 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,076 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $92,917 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 71.6% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 4.2% | — |
Who lives in Northfield
| People | Northfield | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.6 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 17.2% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 20.3% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 23.7% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 8.1% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 8.0% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.0% | — |
| Work from home | 6.9% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 25.6 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 97.3% | 92.5% |
Weather in Northfield
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 8.8°F. About 45.5 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 66.7 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 7 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 174 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northfield since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on July 3, 1972 about 6.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 13, 2004.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 12, 1970.
Severe weather in Merrimack County since 1996
Merrimack County has been included in 29 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
| January 2, 2018 | Severe Storm | DR-4355: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| March 19, 2013 | Severe Storm | DR-4105: Severe Winter Storm And Snowstorm |
| October 30, 2012 | Hurricane | EM-3360: Hurricane Sandy |
Jobs and pay in Merrimack County
Merrimack County had 77,147 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $68,857 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Northfield itself the ACS puts it at 3.3%.
Public schools in Northfield
3 public schools with 417 students, about 11.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southwick School | K-4 | 253 | 11.0 |
| Compass Classical Academy Charter School (E) (charter) | PK-8 | 124 | 15.5 |
| Compass Classical Academy Charter School (H) (charter) | 9-12 | 40 | 10.0 |
Towns near Northfield
- Tilton Northfield, NH3.5 mi · 3,324 people · home $250,000
- Tilton, NH4.9 mi · 3,962 people · home $216,700
- Belmont, NH6.2 mi · 7,314 people · home $316,300
- Franklin, NH6.8 mi · 8,741 people · home $262,200
- Boscawen, NH8.3 mi · 3,998 people · home $286,500
- Loudon, NH8.4 mi · 5,576 people · home $363,400
- Sanbornton, NH8.8 mi · 3,026 people · home $452,300
- Gilmanton, NH9.7 mi · 3,945 people · home $363,700
Northfield questions
Is Northfield, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Northfield scores better for retirees than 12% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 45%. 17.2% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.6).
How much does a house cost in Northfield?
The median owner-occupied home in Northfield is valued at $288,500 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $92,917, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,076 a month.
What is the weather like in Northfield?
July highs average 81.8°F and January lows 8.8°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 45.5 inches of precipitation a year and 66.7 inches of snow.
Does Northfield get tornadoes?
4 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northfield since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on July 3, 1972. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)