Compare towns

Canaan vs Enfield vs Meredith vs Wilder

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 most kids (14.7% under 18).
Enfield has the highest household income ($95k).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).

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.

MeasureCanaanEnfieldMeredithWilder
People
Population
3,811
4,475
6,758Highest
3,087Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+81.7%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
44.4±3.7Lowest
14% above U.S.
58.3±5.4Highest
50% above U.S.
55.5±3.7
43% above U.S.
45.5±8.9
17% above U.S.
Enfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
14.7%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
7.9%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3
U.S.: 22%
11.8%±4.1
U.S.: 22%
Canaan and Meredith 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%
30.7%±7.6
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.3%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
Meredith and Enfield 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
60.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±2.5
U.S.: 6.4%
2.7%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
8.1%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Wilder and Canaan 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
$95,474±$19kHighest
18% above U.S.
$87,019±$19k
8% above U.S.
$75,143±$9kLowest
7% below U.S.
Enfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$254,000±$26kLowest
24% below U.S.
$390,800±$71k
17% above U.S.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
$273,200±$18k
18% below U.S.
Meredith and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,140±$90Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,181±$563Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
$1,142±$451
19% below U.S.
Enfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,985
92% above U.S.
$6,203Highest
99% above U.S.
$5,006Lowest
61% above U.S.
$5,505
76% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±25.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
17.8%±16.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
39.9%±17.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Canaan and Meredith 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%
16.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
9.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
62.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
24 min
10% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
37% below U.S.
Work from home
14.9%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
11%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
12.6%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith 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 #5 of 120 in NH #62 of 120 in NH —
School district Mascoma Valley Regional School District Mascoma Valley Regional School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District —
High school in town Mascoma Valley Regional High School None in town Inter-Lakes High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
—
11.1Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet 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.