What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Brookline has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13%).

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	Brookline
People
Population	3,811Lowest	5,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+13%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average	41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH
	Canaan and Brookline 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%	26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.1%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%	11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	57.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	6.3%±3.2Lowest NH: 6%
	Canaan and Brookline 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	$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH	$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH	$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Lowest 10% below NH	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%	23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Brookline 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%	0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	95.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above NH	33 minHighest 25% above NH
Work from home	14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8%	24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8%
	Brookline and Canaan 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	#23 of 120 in NH
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Brookline 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.