What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Alstead has grown the fastest since 2010 (-3.8%).

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	Alstead
People
Population	810Lowest	1,551Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-3.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.2±4.6Lowest 37% above U.S.	56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S.
	Alstead and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22%	12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Canaan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	28.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	27.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Canaan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	28.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.4%±2.6Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Alstead and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,606±$4kLowest 31% below U.S.	$64,526±$11kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Alstead and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,900±$46kLowest 39% below U.S.	$271,600±$37kHighest 18% below U.S.
	Alstead and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,389Lowest 9% above U.S.	$5,322Highest 71% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.2%±63.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Alstead and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	8.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1973Highest 7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.	32 minHighest 20% above U.S.
Work from home	15.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	12.1%±5.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Canaan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Canaan School District	Fall Mountain Regional School District
High school in town	Canaan High School CTE Program	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.