Compare towns
Canaan vs Grafton 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 affordable homes ($254k median).
Grafton has the most kids (21% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Canaan | Grafton | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
1,354Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
43.1±10.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Grafton 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% |
21%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
24.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest 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±$6kHighest about the U.S. average |
$81,563±$22k about the U.S. average |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Canaan and Grafton 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. |
$267,300±$23k 20% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
| Wilder and Grafton 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. |
$1,243±$163Highest 12% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
| Grafton and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,239Lowest 68% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.1%±34.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%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% |
83.1%Highest 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. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
43 minHighest 64% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±6.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Grafton 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 | — | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | — | — |
| 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.