Compare towns
Canaan vs White River Junction vs Wolfeboro
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811 |
3,364Lowest |
6,571Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction and Canaan 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
45%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% |
2.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Wolfeboro 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. |
$94,375±$22kHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 19% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216Highest 14% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% 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 | $5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and White River Junction 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% |
8.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | — | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
— | 11.1Highest |
| 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.