Compare towns
Canaan vs Lancaster vs Ossipee
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 shortest commute (23 min average).
Ossipee has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.6%).
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 | Ossipee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
3,216Lowest |
4,521Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
| Ossipee and Lancaster 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% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Ossipee 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% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Lancaster 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 |
$90,521±$22kHighest 9% below NH |
| Ossipee 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 |
$325,500±$23kHighest 19% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,601±$245Highest 7% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Ossipee 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% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82%Highest 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 min 12% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest 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 | #100 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Governor Wentworth 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 History | 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.