Compare towns
Canaan vs Whitefield vs Gorham vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Whitefield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8%).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% 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 | Whitefield | Gorham | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
2,516Lowest |
2,682 |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.3% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
51.4±4.6 19% above NH |
53.9±3.6Highest 24% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
| Gorham and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.3%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster 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 NH: 20.1% |
28.6%±5.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Gorham and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% NH: 40.6% |
26.7% NH: 40.6% |
20.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±3.2 NH: 6% |
6.7%±2.8 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Gorham 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 18% below NH |
$63,125±$12k 36% below NH |
$61,275±$7kLowest 38% below NH |
$68,911±$23k 30% below NH |
| Canaan and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kHighest 37% below NH |
$240,400±$22k 40% below NH |
$161,600±$49kLowest 60% below NH |
$215,700±$24k 46% below NH |
| Canaan and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH |
$1,077±$160 28% below NH |
$838±$83Lowest 44% below NH |
$1,019±$263 32% below NH |
| Canaan and Whitefield 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 |
$4,394 34% below NH |
$4,334 35% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.9%±15.6 NH: 48.2% |
41%±20.3 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Whitefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
11% NH: 7.2% |
4.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1965 14 yrs older than NH |
1971 8 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.2%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Lancaster 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 | #86 of 120 in NH | #57 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | White Mountains Regional High School | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
7.9Lowest |
9.0 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.