Compare towns
Canaan vs Stowe vs Waitsfield
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 affordable homes ($254k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Waitsfield has the most kids (23.8% 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.
| Measure | Canaan | Stowe | Waitsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
5,285Highest |
1,918Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Stowe 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% |
22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waitsfield and Stowe 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% |
25.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Waitsfield and Stowe 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% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
63.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Waitsfield 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 |
$93,618±$33kHighest 16% above U.S. |
$84,375±$34k 5% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Waitsfield 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. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$422,400±$92k 27% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Waitsfield 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. |
$1,458±$242Highest 3% above U.S. |
$1,200±$821 15% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Waitsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Lowest 92% above U.S. |
$7,161Highest 130% above U.S. |
$6,208 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.4%±30.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Waitsfield 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% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Waitsfield 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 | Stowe Town School District | Harwood Unified Union School District #60 |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.3Highest |
— |
| 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.