Compare towns

Canaan vs Springfield vs Jaffrey

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 renters (22.7% rent).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
Jaffrey has the most kids (23.1% under 18).

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.

MeasureCanaanSpringfieldJaffrey
People
Population
3,811
1,122Lowest
5,448Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.9%
NH: +4.6%
-4%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
-2.5%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
44.4±3.7
about the NH average
51.4±8.8Highest
19% above NH
42.9±3.9Lowest
about the NH average
Springfield 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
NH: 18.2%
15.1%±8
NH: 18.2%
23.1%±5.1Highest
NH: 18.2%
Jaffrey and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.1%±4.2
NH: 20.1%
19.8%±1.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
18.5%±3.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Springfield 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
NH: 40.6%
36.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
31.2%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
7%±2.5Highest
NH: 6%
0%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
3.1%±2.4
NH: 6%
Canaan and Jaffrey 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
$100,893±$19kHighest
about the NH average
$92,330±$18k
7% below NH
Springfield and Jaffrey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$254,000±$26k
37% below NH
$384,100±$50kHighest
5% below NH
$245,500±$27kLowest
39% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,140±$90Highest
24% below NH
$1,096±$217
26% below NH
$962±$202Lowest
35% 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
$5,985
10% below NH
$5,946Lowest
11% below NH
$6,196Highest
7% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
74.4%±25.1Highest
NH: 48.2%
25.9%±64.8Lowest
NH: 48.2%
45.7%±23
NH: 48.2%
Canaan and Jaffrey 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%
3.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
77.3%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
90.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
81.8%
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 min
12% above NH
34 minHighest
29% above NH
25 minLowest
8% below NH
Work from home
14.9%±6
NH: 16.8%
16.7%±11.6Highest
NH: 16.8%
7.5%±4.2Lowest
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 — #87 of 120 in NH
School district Mascoma Valley Regional School District — Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District
High school in town Mascoma Valley Regional High School — Conant Middle High School (H)
Students per teacherat that high school
10.3Lowest
—
21.3Highest
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.