What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).

Madison has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.5%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canaan	Madison
People
Population	3,811Highest	2,680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+2.5%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average	50.3±9.7Highest 16% above NH
	Madison 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%	23.1%±6.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Madison 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%	23.1%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Madison 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%Lowest NH: 40.6%	37.9%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	1.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH	$102,697±$11kHighest 4% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH	$388,700±$36kHighest 3% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH	$1,556±$256Highest 4% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Highest 10% below NH	$4,074Lowest 39% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%	69.2%±46Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Madison are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above NH	22 minLowest 17% below NH
Work from home	14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8%	8%±4.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Canaan and Madison 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	—
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Madison School District
High school in town	Mascoma Valley Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.