What stands out worked out from the figures below

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

Waterville has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.9%).

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	Waterville
People
Population	810Highest	680Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-7.8%Lowest VT: +2.8%	+1.9%Highest VT: +2.8%
Median age	53.2±4.6Highest 23% above VT	49.1±8.2Lowest 14% above VT
	Canaan and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	15.8%±3.5Lowest VT: 17.9%	20.4%±8.2Highest VT: 17.9%
	Waterville 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%	14.4%±3.5Lowest VT: 21.4%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	13.8%Lowest VT: 43.8%	32.1%Highest VT: 43.8%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±2.3Lowest VT: 7%	5.3%±3.3Highest VT: 7%
	Waterville 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 32% below VT	$71,250±$27kHighest 12% below VT
	Waterville 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 36% below VT	$236,300±$15kHighest 25% below VT
	Waterville and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	—	$1,110±$93 10% below VT
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,389Lowest 33% below VT	$3,957Highest 21% below VT
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	17.2%±63.5Lowest VT: 48.4%	44.6%±27.2Highest VT: 48.4%
	Waterville 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 VT: 10.1%	4.9%Lowest VT: 10.1%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	91.4%Highest VT: 73.2%	79.9%Lowest VT: 73.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1972 4 yrs older than VT	1972 4 yrs older than VT
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	20 minLowest 15% below VT	38 minHighest 60% above VT
Work from home	15.4%±6.5Highest VT: 16.9%	8.5%±3Lowest VT: 16.9%
	Canaan and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Canaan School District	Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A
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.