Compare towns
Canaan vs Hanover vs Lebanon vs Plainfield
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).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Hanover | Lebanon | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
11,685 |
14,999Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
38.9±6.5 10% below NH |
| Canaan and Lebanon 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Plainfield 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% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
46.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$122,656±$13k 24% above NH |
| Hanover and Plainfield 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,744±$132 17% above NH |
$1,674±$181 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$7,904 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Lebanon 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Lebanon School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Hanover High School | Lebanon High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.7 |
11.7Highest |
— |
| 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.