Compare towns
Canaan vs Enfield vs Hanover vs Jaffrey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Jaffrey has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Enfield | Hanover | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811Lowest |
4,475 |
11,685Highest |
5,448 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
42.9±3.9 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
43% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$92,330±$18k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,181±$563 21% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,203 7% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,196 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
11%±5.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 120 in NH | #5 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Hanover High School | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 10.7 |
21.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.