What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).

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	Canaan	Alstead
People
Population	3,811Highest	1,551Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average	56±3.3Highest 29% above NH
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%	12.3%±3.1Lowest 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+	19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	28.3%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Lowest 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	$81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH	$64,526±$11kLowest 35% 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	$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH	$271,600±$37kHighest 33% 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	$5,985Highest 10% below NH	$5,322Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%	72.1%±22.3Lowest 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	13.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	76%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above NH	32 minHighest 19% above NH
Work from home	14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8%	12.1%±5.6Lowest 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	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school 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

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.