What stands out worked out from the figures below

Canaan has the shortest commute (20 min average).

Union has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.5%).

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	Union
People
Population	810Lowest	2,663Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+5.5%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	53.2±4.6Highest 37% above U.S.	41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S.
Kids under 18	15.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22%	24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	28.5%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2%	21.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2%
	Canaan and Union 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%	34.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	3.5%±1.5Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Union 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.	$80,724±$9kHighest about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$201,900±$46kLowest 39% below U.S.	$267,600±$42kHighest 20% below U.S.
	Union and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,179±$452 17% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,389Highest 9% above U.S.	$3,276Lowest 5% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.2%±63.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	24.6%±19.8Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Union 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%	10.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	85.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 24% below U.S.	29 minHighest 11% above U.S.
Work from home	15.4%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	15.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Union and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Canaan School District	RSU 40/MSAD 40
High school in town	Canaan High School CTE Program	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.