Compare towns
Canaan vs Jaffrey vs Plainfield
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 renters (22.7% rent).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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.
| Measure | Canaan | Jaffrey | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
5,448Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
42.9±3.9 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Canaan and Jaffrey 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% |
23.1%±5.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield and Jaffrey 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% |
19.8%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Plainfield 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 NH: 40.6% |
31.2% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Plainfield 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±$18k 7% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Plainfield and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,196 7% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield and Canaan 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 | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Conant Middle High School (H) | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
21.3Highest |
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| 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.