Compare towns
Berwick vs Canaan vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.7%).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
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.
| Measure | Berwick | Canaan | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,175Highest |
3,811 |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24kHighest 17% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6k about the U.S. average |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19kHighest 11% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,140±$90 19% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Berwick and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436 42% above U.S. |
$5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Canaan 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #83 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.