Compare towns
Canaan vs Springfield vs Alstead
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
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 | Springfield | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
1,122Lowest |
1,551 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.4±8.8 19% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Alstead and Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Springfield 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%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Alstead 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 18% below NH |
$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Springfield 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 37% below NH |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH |
$1,096±$217Lowest 26% below NH |
— |
| Canaan and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$5,946 11% below NH |
$5,322Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minLowest 12% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
32 min 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield 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 | — | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | Fall Mountain Regional 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.