Compare towns
Canaan vs Windham vs Dorset vs Dorchester
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 renters (22.7% rent).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Dorset has the most people working from home (29.3%).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Windham | Dorset | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
16,038Highest |
2,092 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.9±7.5 18% above U.S. |
56±10.5Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Dorchester and Dorset 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Dorset 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
39.8%±15.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dorchester and Dorset 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
72.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$111,250±$40k 38% above U.S. |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$569,200±$57k 71% above U.S. |
$139,600±$133kLowest 58% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,420±$296 about the U.S. average |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 92% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$7,489 140% above U.S. |
$3,779Lowest 21% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
22 minLowest 18% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 52% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.3%±7.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dorset and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Windham School District | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Windham High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.