What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).

Colebrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).

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	Colebrook
People
Population	3,811Highest	1,988Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-9.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average	53.7±4.9Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%	13.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Canaan and Colebrook 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%	27.8%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	16.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Canaan and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH	$51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$26kHighest 37% below NH	$192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH
	Canaan and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH	$750±$238Lowest 50% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Highest 10% below NH	$4,350Lowest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%	50.3%±19.3Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Colebrook 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%	13.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above NH	21 minLowest 21% below NH
Work from home	14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8%	5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#83 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Colebrook School District
High school in town	Mascoma Valley Regional High School	Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	8.4Lowest
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.