What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).

Columbia has the shortest commute (20 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	Columbia
People
Population	3,811Highest	683Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-12.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average	51.8±10.1Highest 20% above NH
	Columbia 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%	17.4%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Columbia and Canaan 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%	29.9%±8.3Highest NH: 20.1%
	Columbia 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%Highest NH: 40.6%	14.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5 NH: 6%	7%±3.7 NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH	$57,917±$13kLowest 42% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$26kHighest 37% below NH	$196,400±$29kLowest 51% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH	$792±$333Lowest 47% below NH
	Canaan and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Highest 10% below NH	$2,009Lowest 70% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%	9.1%±95.8Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Columbia 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%	10.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	91.1%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above NH	20 minLowest 24% below NH
Work from home	14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8%	11.2%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Canaan and Columbia 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	—
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	—
High school in town	Mascoma Valley Regional High School	—
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.