Compare towns
Canaan vs Bedford vs Enfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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%).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
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.
| Measure | Canaan | Bedford | Enfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Lowest |
23,746Highest |
4,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
45±2.2 4% above NH |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
22.7%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63%Highest NH: 40.6% |
43% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest 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 |
$95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$390,800±$71k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
$1,181±$563 21% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$6,203 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 120 in NH | #7 of 120 in NH | #5 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Bedford School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Bedford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
13.5Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.