What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).

Waitsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.3%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canaan	Waitsfield
People
Population	3,811Highest	1,918Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+7.3%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S.	44.3±5.3Lowest 14% above U.S.
	Canaan and Waitsfield 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%	23.8%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%
	Waitsfield and Canaan 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%	28.2%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Waitsfield 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 U.S.: 35.7%	63.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	3.8%±3Lowest 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	$84,375±$34kHighest 5% above U.S.
	Waitsfield and Canaan 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.	$422,400±$92kHighest 27% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S.	$1,200±$821Highest 15% below U.S.
	Waitsfield 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.	$6,208Highest 99% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	47.4%±30.6Lowest 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%	6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S.	1980Highest same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 14% above U.S.	25 minLowest 5% below U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19%±6.1Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Waitsfield 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	—
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Harwood Unified Union School District #60
High school in town	Mascoma Valley Regional High School	None in town
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3	—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.