Compare towns
Canaan vs Richmond vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Richmond has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.1%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Richmond | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
4,159Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Lancaster 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% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Richmond 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% |
59.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6k about the U.S. average |
$108,235±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Richmond and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
$432,200±$39kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Highest 19% below U.S. |
— | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Canaan and Lancaster 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. |
$6,868Highest 120% above U.S. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Lancaster 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% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond 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 70 in VT | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — |
| 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.