Compare towns
Canaan vs Lebanon vs Grafton
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 affordable homes ($254k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Grafton has the most kids (21% under 18).
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 | Lebanon | Grafton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
14,999Highest |
1,354Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
43.1±10.6 about the NH average |
| Canaan and Grafton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Grafton and Canaan 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% |
21.4%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
21%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lebanon and Grafton 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% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
24.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Lebanon 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 |
$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$81,563±$22kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29kHighest 4% below NH |
$267,300±$23k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,243±$163 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$5,239Lowest 21% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±34.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
43 minHighest 62% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±6.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Lebanon and Grafton 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Lebanon School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Lebanon High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
— |
| 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.