What stands out worked out from the figures below

Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).

Canaan has the highest household income ($82k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Alstead	Canaan
People
Population	1,551Lowest	3,811Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH	44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Canaan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%	19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.3%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
	Canaan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH	$81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH
	Canaan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$271,600±$37kHighest 33% below NH	$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH
	Alstead and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,140±$90 24% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH	$5,985Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	72.1%±22.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%	13.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%	77.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	32 minHighest 19% above NH	30 minLowest 12% above NH
Work from home	12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Canaan and Alstead 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	—	#83 of 120 in NH
School district	Fall Mountain Regional School District	Mascoma Valley Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	Mascoma Valley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	10.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.