Compare towns
Canaan vs Orford vs Thetford
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 people working from home (14.9%).
Orford has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Orford | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
1,295Lowest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Orford 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 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Thetford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Orford and Thetford 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% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Thetford 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 about the U.S. average |
$92,571±$24kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Orford and Thetford 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. |
$271,900±$25k 18% below U.S. |
$329,500±$96kHighest about the U.S. average |
| Thetford and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686Highest 11% below U.S. |
$1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
| Orford and Thetford 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. |
$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$6,948Highest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canaan and Thetford 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 | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Rivendell Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.