Compare towns
Canaan vs Thetford vs Richmond
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).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Richmond has the most people working from home (22.5%).
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 | Thetford | Richmond |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
2,813Lowest |
4,159Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
43.7±5.6 12% above U.S. |
| Canaan and Richmond 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% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Richmond and Thetford 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% |
20.8%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±6.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Thetford and Richmond 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% |
68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Thetford 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 |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
$108,235±$24kHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Thetford 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. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$432,200±$39kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Richmond and Thetford 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. |
$1,141±$96Highest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Thetford and Canaan 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. |
$6,948Highest 123% above U.S. |
$6,868 120% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
28.5%±15.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Thetford 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% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.5%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Richmond 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 | #40 of 70 in VT | #5 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Thetford School District | Mount Mansfield Unified Union School District #401 |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | 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 |
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.

