What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Washington has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).

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	Washington
People
Population	3,811Highest	1,208Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average	55±4.7Highest 27% above NH
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%	13.8%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Canaan and Washington 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%	29%±3Highest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%	32%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	4.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 6%
	Canaan and Washington 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 18% below NH	$89,453±$12kHighest 10% below NH
	Washington 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 37% below NH	$358,600±$32kHighest 11% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH	$1,106±$160Lowest 26% below NH
	Canaan and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Highest 10% below NH	$4,321Lowest 35% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%	0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest NH: 7.2%	8.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%	94.4%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 12% above NH	36 minHighest 33% above NH
Work from home	14.9%±6 NH: 16.8%	14.9%±5.3 NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#83 of 120 in NH	—
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Washington School District
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

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.