Compare towns
Canaan vs Meredith vs Antrim vs Lancaster
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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Antrim has the most homeowners (79.1%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Meredith | Antrim | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
6,758Highest |
2,692Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.5% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
46.7±3.9 8% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.4%±4.8 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Antrim are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Lancaster 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% |
45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Antrim 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 |
$87,019±$19kHighest 12% below NH |
$86,648±$22k 13% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Meredith and Antrim 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$298,800±$23k 26% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,149±$304Highest 23% below NH |
$1,040±$177 30% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Meredith and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
$5,608 16% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
95.9%±24.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Antrim and Canaan 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
79.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.8%±5.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #104 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Contoocook Valley School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.