Compare towns
Canaan vs Plainfield 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).
Plainfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4%).
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 | Plainfield | Enfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
2,522 |
1,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
38.9±6.5Lowest 10% 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% |
23.4%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.5%±8.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Plainfield 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% |
19.8%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
33.8%±12.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield and Plainfield 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% |
46.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.3Lowest 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 |
$122,656±$13kHighest 24% above NH |
$99,330±$21k about the NH average |
| Plainfield 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 |
$442,400±$47kHighest 10% above NH |
$277,900±$56k 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,674±$181Highest 12% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$7,904Highest 19% above NH |
$4,779Lowest 28% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±23.1 NH: 48.2% |
14.6%±17.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Plainfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
23.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
87.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
22 min 18% below NH |
22 minLowest 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.6%±9.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Plainfield 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 | #19 of 120 in NH | #5 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Plainfield 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.