Compare towns
Canaan vs Keene vs Hartford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
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.
| Measure | Canaan | Keene | Hartford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Lowest |
22,939Highest |
10,736 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
43.2±3.9 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%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hartford and Keene 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% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kHighest about the U.S. average |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
| Canaan and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 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. |
$1,342±$68Highest 5% below U.S. |
$1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
| Keene and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 92% above U.S. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 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% |
10.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
18 min 30% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #34 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Keene School District | Hartford School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Keene High School | Hartford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
12.3Highest |
9.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.