Compare towns
Canaan vs Wilder vs Bellows Falls
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 homeowners (77.3%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Bellows Falls has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Wilder | Bellows Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
3,087 |
2,891Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
41.3±6.7Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Wilder and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Bellows Falls and Wilder 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 |
$75,143±$9k 7% below U.S. |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Canaan and Wilder 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. |
$273,200±$18kHighest 18% below U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Wilder 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. |
$1,142±$451Highest 19% below U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
| Wilder 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. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
20 min 24% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canaan and Wilder 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 | — | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | — | — |
| 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.