Compare towns
Enfield vs Canaan vs Lebanon vs Meredith
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 most homeowners (82.1%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k 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 | Canaan | Lebanon | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,475 |
3,811Lowest |
14,999Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| 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% |
14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Lebanon 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% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest 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% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Lebanon 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 |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$98,147±$10kHighest about the NH average |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Lebanon and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
| Meredith and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563 21% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,149±$304 23% below NH |
| Lebanon 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 |
$5,985 10% below NH |
$8,149Highest 22% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 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% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Lebanon School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Lebanon High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
11.7Highest |
11.1 |
| 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.