Compare towns
Canaan vs Hooksett vs Northfield
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Northfield has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
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 | Hooksett | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Lowest |
15,057Highest |
4,971 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
| Canaan and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Canaan and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
| Hooksett and Northfield 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 |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$288,500±$33k 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Hooksett 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.