What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

Hancock has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.7%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canaan	Hancock
People
Population	3,811Highest	1,791Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+4.7%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average	53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	15.4%±2.2Highest NH: 18.2%
	Hancock 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%	30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	53.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%
	Canaan and Hancock 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	$95,208±$15kHighest 4% below NH
	Hancock and Canaan 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	$436,700±$22kHighest 8% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH	$1,208±$650Highest 19% below NH
	Hancock and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Lowest 10% below NH	$6,884Highest 3% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%	32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Hancock 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%	4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	85.6%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH	1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above NH	33 minHighest 24% above NH
Work from home	14.9%±6 NH: 16.8%	14.9%±3.2 NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#83 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Contoocook Valley School District
High school in town	Mascoma Valley Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.