What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).

Royalton has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canaan	Royalton
People
Population	3,811Highest	2,752Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-0.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S.	43.9±10.1Lowest 13% above U.S.
	Canaan and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22%	14.4%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Canaan and Royalton 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%	22.1%±6.4Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Royalton 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%	42.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Royalton and Canaan 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	$103,938±$24kHighest 29% above U.S.
	Royalton 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±$26kLowest 24% below U.S.	$263,200±$73kHighest 21% below U.S.
	Royalton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Highest 19% below U.S.	$1,040±$391Lowest 26% below U.S.
	Canaan and Royalton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Highest 92% above U.S.	$4,675Lowest 50% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	36.7%±16.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Canaan and Royalton 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%	13%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	63.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	20 minLowest 23% below U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	17.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Royalton 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	#48 of 70 in VT
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	White River Unified School District #79
High school in town	Mascoma Valley Regional High School	White River Valley High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Highest	8.7Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.