Compare towns
Canaan vs White River Junction vs Jaffrey
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 oldest population (median age 44.4).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Jaffrey has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
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 | White River Junction | Jaffrey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
3,364Lowest |
5,448Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.9±3.9 10% above U.S. |
| Canaan and Jaffrey 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% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Jaffrey and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canaan and Jaffrey 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% |
38.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Jaffrey 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 about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$92,330±$18kHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Jaffrey 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±$26k 24% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78kHighest 16% below U.S. |
$245,500±$27kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 19% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$962±$202Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| White River Junction and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 92% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$6,196Highest 99% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.7%±23 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Jaffrey 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction 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 | — | #87 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | — | Conant Middle High School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 21.3Highest |
| 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.