Compare towns
Canaan vs Meredith vs Wilder
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Meredith | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
6,758Highest |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Meredith and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canaan and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Wilder 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Canaan 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 about the U.S. average |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451 19% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.