Compare towns
Canaan vs Dorchester vs Lancaster
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 people working from home (14.9%).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Dorchester | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
410Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
| Dorchester and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster 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% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Lancaster 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% |
35.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Lancaster 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 |
— | $68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Canaan and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kHighest 37% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$215,700±$24k 46% below NH |
| Canaan and Lancaster 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 |
— | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Canaan and Lancaster 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 |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$4,226 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
16.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Dorchester 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | White Mountains Regional 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 | 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.