Compare towns
Canaan vs Bedford vs Orange
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 the most expensive homes ($612k median).
Orange has the most homeowners (97.5%).
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 | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
23,746Highest |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
45±2.2Highest 4% above NH |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below 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% |
20.6%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Bedford and Orange 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% |
20.5%±2.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bedford and Orange 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% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7Lowest 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 |
$118,750±$39k 20% above NH |
| Bedford and Orange 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 |
$612,100±$26kHighest 52% above NH |
$302,600±$35k 25% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,099±$274Highest 41% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$9,803Highest 47% above NH |
$5,132Lowest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
59.4%±15.3 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Bedford and Orange 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 | #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 | 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.