Compare towns
Canaan vs Orange vs Enfield
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).
Orange has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.1).
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 | Orange | Enfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
320Lowest |
1,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— | +2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
58.1±20Highest 34% above NH |
| Enfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.5%±8.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Orange and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20%±5 NH: 20.1% |
33.8%±12.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield and Orange 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% |
37.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.5%±7.3 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Enfield 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 |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
$99,330±$21k about the NH average |
| Orange and Enfield 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 |
$302,600±$35kHighest 25% below NH |
$277,900±$56k 31% below NH |
| Orange and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
— | — |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$5,132 23% below NH |
$4,779Lowest 28% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
14.6%±17.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
9.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
23.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.6%±9.6Lowest 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 | — | #5 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | — | — |
| 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.