Compare towns
Canaan vs Grantham vs Hanover vs Orange
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).
Grantham has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Orange has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Grantham | Hanover | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
3,465 |
11,685Highest |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
50.4±7.5Highest 16% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.3±9.1 5% below NH |
| Grantham 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 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±6.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Orange and Grantham 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% |
17%±6.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Orange and Hanover 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 NH: 40.6% |
59.6% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
4.8%±6 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$106,403±$54k 7% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$118,750±$39k 20% above NH |
| Hanover and Orange 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 |
$343,100±$39k 15% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$302,600±$35k 25% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
— | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$7,605 14% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,132Lowest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
— | 66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Hanover 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% |
0%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
100%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
23 min 16% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±6.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Orange 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 | #6 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Grantham School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Hanover High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 10.7Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.