Compare towns
Canaan vs Norwich vs Durham vs Enfield
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 affordable homes ($254k median).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Norwich | Durham | Enfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
3,640Lowest |
15,080Highest |
4,475 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1 U.S.: 22% |
7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.7%±7.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Enfield 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
43% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$95,474±$19k 18% above U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham 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. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$390,800±$71k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,460±$322Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,181±$563 16% below U.S. |
| Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,203 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
17.8%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
16.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Durham 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 | #1 of 70 in VT | #9 of 120 in NH | #5 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Norwich School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.