Compare towns
Canaan vs Newfields vs Lancaster vs Jaffrey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Jaffrey has the most kids (23.1% 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 | Newfields | Lancaster | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
2,023Lowest |
3,216 |
5,448Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
42.9±3.9Lowest about the NH average |
| Lancaster 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%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Lancaster 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% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster 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% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
31.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4 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±$6k 18% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$92,330±$18k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$245,500±$27k 39% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,019±$263 32% below NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,196 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Jaffrey 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 120 in NH | — | #107 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Newfields School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | — | 21.3Highest |
| 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.