Compare towns
Canaan vs Wilder vs Lancaster
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 people working from home (14.9%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Wilder | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
3,087Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Canaan 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. |
$68,911±$23kLowest 15% 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. |
$215,700±$24kLowest 35% 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. |
$1,019±$263Lowest 28% 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. |
$4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Wilder 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% |
16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest 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 | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | White Mountains Regional School District |
| 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.