Compare towns
Canaan vs Stratham vs Hampton Falls vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Stratham | Hampton Falls | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
7,754Highest |
2,328Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lancaster 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% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Lancaster 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% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Hampton Falls 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Stratham 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 |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Stratham 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 |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls 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 |
$9,781 47% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hampton Falls School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.