Compare towns
Canaan vs Meredith vs Plainfield
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).
Meredith has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.7%).
Plainfield has the most kids (23.4% 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 | Meredith | Plainfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
6,758Highest |
2,522Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$442,400±$47k 10% above NH |
| Meredith and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Meredith 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Plainfield School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
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| 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.