What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).

Westminster has the most people working from home (27%).

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	Westminster
People
Population	3,811Highest	2,999Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest U.S.: +7.4%	-5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S.	53.5±3.7Highest 38% above U.S.
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22%	18.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22%
	Westminster 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%	27.6%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Westminster 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%	46.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%	4.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Canaan and Westminster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,583±$6kHighest about the U.S. average	$71,491±$4kLowest 11% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S.	$273,800±$35kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Westminster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Highest 19% below U.S.	$916±$126Lowest 35% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,985Highest 92% above U.S.	$4,063Lowest 30% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1%	49.2%±7.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	Canaan and Westminster 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%	8.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%	88.2%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.	24 minLowest 10% below U.S.
Work from home	14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	27%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Westminster 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	#53 of 70 in VT
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Bellows Falls Union High School District #27 · Westminster School District
High school in town	Mascoma Valley Regional High School	Bellows Falls Union High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.3Lowest	10.6Highest
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.