What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Newark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.5%).

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	Newark
People
Population	810Highest	727Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+0.5%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	53.2±4.6Highest 23% above VT	41.4±6Lowest 4% below VT
Kids under 18	15.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	22%±3Highest VT: 17.9%
	Newark 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 VT: 21.4%	19.9%±5.1Lowest VT: 21.4%
	Canaan and Newark 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 VT: 43.8%	41%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.3Highest VT: 7%	0.6%±0.6Lowest VT: 7%
	Canaan and Newark 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 32% below VT	$72,929±$7kHighest 10% below VT
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,900±$46kLowest 36% below VT	$229,900±$23kHighest 27% below VT
	Newark and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,708±$97 38% above VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,389Lowest 33% below VT	$3,771Highest 25% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.2%±63.5Highest VT: 48.4%	7.1%±100Lowest VT: 48.4%
	Canaan and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.4%Lowest VT: 10.1%	22.4%Highest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	90.8%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 4 yrs older than VT	1980Highest 4 yrs newer than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 15% below VT	34 minHighest 44% above VT
Work from home	15.4%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9%	13.8%±8.2Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Canaan and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Canaan School District	Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64
High school in town	Canaan High School CTE Program	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

VT 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.