Compare towns
Canaan vs Hanover vs Keene
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 oldest population (median age 44.4).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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 | Hanover | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Lowest |
11,685 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Hanover 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% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Keene 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest 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% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1976Highest 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Hanover High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.7 |
12.3Highest |
| 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.