Compare towns
Canaan vs Newfields vs Exeter
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).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Newfields | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
2,023Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Exeter 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Newfields School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.