Compare towns
Canaan vs Wolfeboro vs Lancaster vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Orange has the highest household income ($119k).
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 | Wolfeboro | Lancaster | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811 |
6,571Highest |
3,216 |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Orange 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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8 NH: 20.1% |
20%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Lancaster 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 NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$118,750±$39kHighest 20% above NH |
| Orange and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$302,600±$35k 25% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH |
$1,103±$76 26% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
— |
| Canaan and Wolfeboro 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 |
$4,531 32% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,132 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Lancaster 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% |
8.2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
24 min 11% below NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Orange 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Lowest |
11.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.