What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the most people working from home (15.4%).

Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k 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.

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

Measure	Canaan	Berlin
People
Population	810Lowest	9,383Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	-6.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.2±4.6Highest 37% above U.S.	44.6±2.8Lowest 15% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	17.2%±2.8Highest U.S.: 22%
	Berlin and Canaan 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%	20.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Canaan and Berlin 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%	14.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.3Highest U.S.: 6.4%	2.7%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%
	Canaan and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$55,606±$4kHighest 31% below U.S.	$45,180±$5kLowest 44% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,900±$46kHighest 39% below U.S.	$131,000±$15kLowest 61% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$815±$141 42% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,389Lowest 9% above U.S.	$3,437Highest 10% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.2%±63.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	43.7%±12Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Berlin and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	62.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Highest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minHighest 24% below U.S.	19 minLowest 29% below U.S.
Work from home	15.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	3.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	—	#108 of 120 in NH
School district	Canaan School District	Berlin School District
High school in town	Canaan High School CTE Program	Berlin Senior High School
Students per teacherat that high school	—	8.2
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.