Compare towns
Canaan vs Northfield vs Orange
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).
Northfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Orange has the most people working from home (20.8%).
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 | Northfield | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
4,971Highest |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Canaan and Northfield 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% |
20.3%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Orange and Northfield 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% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Orange 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% NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Northfield 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 |
$92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
| Orange and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$288,500±$33k 28% below NH |
$302,600±$35kHighest 25% below NH |
| Orange and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
— |
| Canaan and Northfield 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 |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$5,132 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Orange 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — |
| 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.