Compare towns
Enfield vs Auburn vs Meredith vs Canaan
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 the shortest commute (24 min average).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Meredith has the most renters (24.2% rent).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Auburn | Meredith | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,475 |
6,119 |
6,758Highest |
3,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Enfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±7.6 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43% NH: 40.6% |
55.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563 21% below NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Auburn and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,203 7% below NH |
$8,092Highest 21% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Meredith 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Auburn School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.