Compare towns
Canaan vs Lancaster vs Morris
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Lancaster has the highest household income ($135k).
Morris has the most affordable homes ($396k median).
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 | Canaan | Lancaster | Morris |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,175Lowest |
8,606Highest |
2,164 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 54.2±3.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
52.8±6.5 36% above U.S. |
| Canaan and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.5%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Morris and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 12%±8.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $89,632±$25kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$109,191±$25k 35% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Morris are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $469,400±$33k 41% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60kHighest 56% above U.S. |
$396,000±$60kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,830±$307 30% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
$1,204±$134Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,331 103% above U.S. |
$7,235Highest 132% above U.S. |
$5,273Lowest 69% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.1%±26 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±31.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1944Lowest 36 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Highest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.2%±13.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.4%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | — | #145 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Canaan School District · Regional School District 01 | Nashoba | Regional School District 20 |
| High school in town | Housatonic Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.