Compare towns
Enfield vs Hanover vs Keene 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 oldest population (median age 58.3).
Hanover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.4%).
Keene has the most renters (44.9% rent).
Canaan has the most kids (14.7% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Keene | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,475 |
11,685 |
22,939Highest |
3,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Canaan and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±7.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563 21% below NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,203 7% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Hanover 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% |
5.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #5 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Keene School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Hanover High School | Keene High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
12.3Highest |
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.