What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).

Holderness has the most expensive homes ($363k median).

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	Holderness
People
Population	3,811Highest	1,917Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average	39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH
	Canaan and Holderness 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%	14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2%
Age 65+	19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%	31.4%±4.6Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	55.7%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH	$107,863±$45kHighest 9% above NH
	Holderness 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	$363,100±$60kHighest 10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH	$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Highest 10% below NH	$3,923Lowest 41% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%	23.5%±21.2Lowest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	12.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	83.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above NH	27 minLowest about the NH average
Work from home	14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8%	9.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Canaan and Holderness 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	—
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Holderness 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.