What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).

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	Hartford
People
Population	3,811Lowest	10,736Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S.	43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S.
	Canaan and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	18%±3Highest U.S.: 22%
	Hartford 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 U.S.: 17.2%	22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Hartford and Canaan 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 U.S.: 35.7%	47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Canaan and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,583±$6kHighest about the U.S. average	$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S.
	Canaan and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S.	$304,500±$26kHighest 8% below U.S.
	Hartford and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,218±$118Highest 14% below U.S.
	Hartford and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Highest 92% above U.S.	$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Canaan and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	11.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	18 minLowest 30% below U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1%	13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Canaan and Hartford 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	#34 of 70 in VT
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Hartford School District
High school in town	Mascoma Valley Regional High School	Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	None yet

U.S. 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.