Compare towns
Canaan vs Lancaster vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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 | Lancaster | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
3,216 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Newfields 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$6k 18% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Newfields 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Newfields 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 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.