Compare towns
Enfield vs Canaan vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2%).
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Alstead has the oldest housing (typical home built 1973).
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 | Enfield | Canaan | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,994 |
3,811Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.1±20Highest 34% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
56±3.3 29% above NH |
| Enfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±8.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.8%±12.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Enfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±7.3 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,330±$21kHighest about the NH average |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Enfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $277,900±$56kHighest 31% below NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$271,600±$37k 33% below NH |
| Enfield and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,779Lowest 28% below NH |
$5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.6%±17.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 23.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 70.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 10.6%±9.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Alstead 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.