Compare towns
Canaan vs Gorham vs Boscawen
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 people working from home (14.9%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Boscawen has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.8%).
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 | Gorham | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
2,682Lowest |
4,044Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
46±4.2 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Boscawen 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 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.7% NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$77,328±$27k 22% below NH |
| Canaan and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$286,500±$23kHighest 29% below NH |
| Boscawen and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,265±$307Highest 15% below NH |
| Boscawen 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 |
$4,334Lowest 35% below NH |
$6,549Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Boscawen 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% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Boscawen 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 | #57 of 120 in NH | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.0Lowest |
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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.