Compare towns
Canaan vs Epping vs Northfield
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 affordable homes ($254k median).
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Northfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
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 | Epping | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Lowest |
7,430Highest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
45.1±3.5Highest 4% above NH |
42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Epping and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield and Epping 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% |
22.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Epping and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% NH: 40.6% |
37%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±3.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Epping 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 18% below NH |
$104,220±$7kHighest 5% above NH |
$92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
| Epping and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$436,900±$35kHighest 9% above NH |
$288,500±$33k 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,742±$576Highest 17% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Epping and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$6,936Highest 4% above NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
67.8%±25.9 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
24%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Epping School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Epping High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.3Lowest |
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| 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.