Compare towns
Canaan vs Lancaster vs Stowe
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 youngest population (median age 44.4).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
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 | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
3,216Lowest |
5,285Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9 17% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Stowe 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% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 about the U.S. average |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
$93,618±$33kHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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 24% below U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 19% below U.S. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Canaan 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. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.3Highest |
| 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.