Compare towns
Canaan vs Gorham vs Charleston
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 kids (15.8% under 18).
Gorham has the most affordable homes ($162k median).
Charleston has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.2%).
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 | Gorham | Charleston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 810Lowest |
2,682Highest |
936 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 53.2±4.6Lowest 37% above U.S. |
53.9±3.6 39% above U.S. |
58.4±9.3Highest 50% above U.S. |
| Charleston and Gorham 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% |
12.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Canaan and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.5%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31.7%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
37.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Charleston and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 13.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $55,606±$4k 31% below U.S. |
$61,275±$7kHighest 24% below U.S. |
$49,286±$17kLowest 39% below U.S. |
| Gorham 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±$46k 39% below U.S. |
$161,600±$49kLowest 51% below U.S. |
$238,000±$53kHighest 28% below U.S. |
| Charleston and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $838±$83Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$979±$444Highest 31% below U.S. |
| Charleston and Gorham 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. |
$4,334Highest 39% above U.S. |
$3,750 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.2%±63.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41%±20.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±26.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gorham and Charleston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 15.4%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
1.7%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Charleston and Canaan 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 | — | #57 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Canaan School District | Gorham Randolph Shelburne Cooperative School District | Charleston School District |
| High school in town | Canaan High School CTE Program | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.0 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.