Compare towns
Canaan vs Lancaster vs Sutton
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 youngest population (median age 44.4).
Lancaster has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Sutton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.7%).
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 | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
3,216 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Sutton 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% |
44.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Sutton 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 |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$362,600±$16kHighest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,656±$614Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$7,652Highest 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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% |
4.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Sutton 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 10.4Highest |
| 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.