Compare towns

Enfield vs Waterbury vs Canaan

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Enfield has the oldest population (median age 58.3).
Waterbury has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
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.

MeasureEnfieldWaterburyCanaan
People
Population
4,475
5,405Highest
3,811Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.3±5.4Highest
50% above U.S.
43.2±3.7Lowest
11% above U.S.
44.4±3.7
14% above U.S.
Kids under 18
7.9%±4.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.9%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
Waterbury and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
30.7%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.8%±4.4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±4.2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Enfield and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43%
U.S.: 35.7%
54.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.7%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.4%±2.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Canaan and Waterbury 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
18% above U.S.
$103,917±$23kHighest
29% above U.S.
$81,583±$6kLowest
about the U.S. average
Waterbury 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
17% above U.S.
$447,200±$40kHighest
34% above U.S.
$254,000±$26kLowest
24% below U.S.
Waterbury and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,181±$563Highest
16% below U.S.
$1,027±$535Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,140±$90
19% below U.S.
Enfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,203
99% above U.S.
$6,435Highest
106% above U.S.
$5,985Lowest
92% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
17.8%±16.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.8%±21.7
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±25.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Canaan and Waterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
16.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
13.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
70.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1983Highest
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
10% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
11%±5.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
28.3%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #5 of 120 in NH #20 of 70 in VT #83 of 120 in NH
School district Mascoma Valley Regional School District Harwood Unified Union School District #60 Mascoma Valley Regional School District
High school in town None in town None in town Mascoma Valley Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
10.3
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.