Compare towns
Canaan vs Norwich vs Durham vs Orange
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 expensive homes ($638k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Orange has the most homeowners (97.5%).
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 | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
3,640 |
15,080Highest |
320Lowest |
| 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% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
41.3±9.1 6% above U.S. |
| Canaan and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Orange 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% |
20%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.2% 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% |
4.7%±3.7Lowest 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. |
$118,750±$39k 47% 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. |
$302,600±$35k 9% below 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 |
— |
| Norwich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,132Lowest 65% 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% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4% 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% |
97.5%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. |
1986Highest 6 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. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.8%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Orange 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 | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Norwich School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | — |
| 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.