What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).

Winchester has the most kids (18.9% 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Canaan	Winchester
People
Population	3,811Lowest	4,212Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average	42.6±4.5Lowest about the NH average
	Canaan and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%	18.9%±4.7Highest NH: 18.2%
	Winchester and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	19.1%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%	17.9%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Canaan and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	28.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%	2.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH	$67,723±$11kLowest 32% below NH
	Canaan and Winchester 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	$242,900±$20kLowest 40% below NH
	Canaan and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH	$1,209±$143Highest 19% below NH
	Winchester and Canaan 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	$5,314Lowest 20% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%	45%±17.7Lowest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%	14.1%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	77.3%Highest NH: 72.8%	72.7%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH	1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minHighest 12% above NH	29 minLowest 7% above NH
Work from home	14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8%	4.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#83 of 120 in NH	#120 of 120 in NH
School district	Mascoma Valley Regional School District	Winchester 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

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.