Compare towns
Canaan vs Eliot vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
Eliot has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.3%).
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 | Eliot | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
7,146Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Eliot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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±$6k about the U.S. average |
$101,522±$10kHighest 26% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 19% below U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
$4,549 46% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Eliot 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.