Compare towns
Canaan vs Enfield vs Williston
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 affordable homes ($254k median).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Lowest |
4,475 |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Enfield and Williston 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% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$95,474±$19k 18% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Williston and Enfield 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. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Williston 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±$563 16% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Williston and Enfield 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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.