The Town FilesNorthwood, New Hampshire
Town in Rockingham County · population 4,641 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $363,000
- Household income
- $129,375
- Jan low / Jul high
- 13° / 83°
- Snow a year
- 54 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 7
- Median age
- 42.4
Northwood is a town of 4,641 people in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $363,000, close to the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks more of a college town than 95% of New Hampshire towns, better for families than 92% of New Hampshire towns, better for a vacation home than 87% of New Hampshire towns.
- #6 in The 25 Most Affordable Small Towns in New Hampshire
- #10 in The 19 Best Affordable Small Towns for Remote Workers in New Hampshire
- #13 in The 25 Best Small Towns for Families in New Hampshire
- #25 in The 25 Best Small Towns for First-Time Home Buyers in New Hampshire
- #40 in The 50 Best Small Towns for Young Families in America
- #42 in The 50 Best Places for Young Families in America
How Northwood 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 Northwood is worth $363,000, close to the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 2.8 times the median household income of $129,375, which is more affordable than 95% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,201 a month. 89.0% of households own their home.
| Housing | Northwood | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $363,000 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,201 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $129,375 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 2.8× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 89.0% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1970 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 19.0% | — |
Who lives in Northwood
| People | Northwood | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 42.4 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 21.5% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 18.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 38.9% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 7.5% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 10.6% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 2.7% | — |
| Work from home | 18.7% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 36.5 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 94.8% | 92.5% |
Weather in Northwood
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 12.9°F. About 42.0 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 54.4 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 14 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 165 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northwood since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 5 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an EF2, struck on July 24, 2008 about 2.9 miles from the town center. Tornadoes within 10 miles have caused 1 deaths and 7 injuries since 1950. The most recent was on July 24, 2008.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 24 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 18, 2008.
Severe weather in Rockingham County since 1996
Rockingham County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Rockingham County
Rockingham County had 157,028 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,537 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Northwood itself the ACS puts it at 3.6%.
Public schools in Northwood
2 public schools with 1,068 students, about 11.7 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | 9-12 | 666 | 11.1 |
| Northwood Elementary School | PK-8 | 402 | 13.0 |
Towns near Northwood
- Strafford, NH5.1 mi · 4,230 people · home $427,900
- Deerfield, NH5.5 mi · 4,855 people · home $421,000
- Epsom, NH6.3 mi · 4,834 people · home $338,400
- Pittsfield, NH6.8 mi · 4,075 people · home $294,800
- Nottingham, NH7.3 mi · 5,229 people · home $457,500
- Barrington, NH9.3 mi · 9,326 people · home $399,100
- Allenstown, NH9.5 mi · 4,707 people · home $243,600
- Barnstead, NH9.6 mi · 4,915 people · home $362,400
Northwood questions
Is Northwood, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Northwood scores better for retirees than 37% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 49%. 21.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 42.4).
How much does a house cost in Northwood?
The median owner-occupied home in Northwood is valued at $363,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $129,375, so homes cost about 2.8 times income. Median rent is $1,201 a month.
What is the weather like in Northwood?
July highs average 83.0°F and January lows 12.9°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.0 inches of precipitation a year and 54.4 inches of snow.
Does Northwood get tornadoes?
7 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Northwood since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF2 on July 24, 2008. 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)