Compare towns
Canaan vs Hanover vs Wolfeboro
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Lowest |
11,685Highest |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Hanover High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
10.7 |
11.1Highest |
| 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.