Compare towns
Canaan vs Jaffrey vs Dorchester
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 people working from home (14.9%).
Jaffrey has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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.
| Measure | Canaan | Jaffrey | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
5,448Highest |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
42.9±3.9Lowest about the NH average |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester and Canaan 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% |
23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
31.2% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Jaffrey 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 |
$92,330±$18kHighest 7% below NH |
— |
| Jaffrey 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±$26kHighest 37% below NH |
$245,500±$27k 39% below NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Canaan and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
— |
| Canaan and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$6,196Highest 7% below NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Dorchester 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 | #87 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Conant Middle High School (H) | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
21.3Highest |
— |
| 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.