Compare towns
Canaan vs White River Junction vs Williston
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).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Williston has the most expensive homes ($476k median).
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 | Williston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
3,364Lowest |
10,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Williston and Canaan 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% 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% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Williston 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
20 min 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and White River Junction 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 |
| 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 | 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.