Compare towns
Canaan vs Lancaster 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 people working from home (14.9%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Northfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).
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 | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
3,216Lowest |
4,971Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
42.6±5.1Lowest 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% |
20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Northfield 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% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Northfield 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 |
$92,917±$15kHighest 6% below NH |
| Northfield 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±$26k 37% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$288,500±$33kHighest 28% below NH |
| Northfield and Canaan 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 |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,076±$182 28% below NH |
| Canaan and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,097 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Lancaster 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% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as 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%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Lancaster 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | White Mountains Regional 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 |
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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.