What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).

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	Alton
People
Population	3,811Lowest	5,994Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average	53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%	13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Canaan and Alton 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%	25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1%
	Alton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	35.8%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH	$113,715±$19kHighest 15% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH	$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90 24% below NH	—
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Highest 10% below NH	$4,183Lowest 37% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%	31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Alton 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%	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above NH	33 minHighest 24% above NH
Work from home	14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8%	13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Canaan and Alton 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	#72 of 120 in NH
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District
High school in town	Mascoma Valley Regional High School	Prospect Mountain High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	11.1Highest
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.