Compare towns
Canaan vs St. Albans vs White River Junction
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).
St. Albans has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
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.
| Measure | Canaan | St. Albans | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
6,954Highest |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
38.7±2 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Canaan and St. Albans 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% |
20.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| St. Albans and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canaan and St. Albans 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% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kHighest about the U.S. average |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
| Canaan and White River Junction 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. |
$263,400±$18k 21% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and St. Albans are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,150±$78 19% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and St. Albans 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. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and St. Albans 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% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
49% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction 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 | #46 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— |
| 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.

