What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Bedford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10%).

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	Bedford
People
Population	3,811Lowest	23,746Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+10%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average	45±2.2Highest 4% above NH
	Bedford and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1%
	Bedford 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%	63%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
	Canaan and Bedford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH	$167,418±$12kHighest 69% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH	$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH	$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Lowest 10% below NH	$9,803Highest 47% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%	59.4%±15.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Bedford 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%	2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	82.9%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above NH	25 minLowest 5% below NH
Work from home	14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8%	27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#83 of 120 in NH	#7 of 120 in NH
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Bedford School District
High school in town	Mascoma Valley Regional High School	Bedford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	13.5Highest
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.