Compare towns
Enfield vs White River Junction vs Portsmouth 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).
White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | White River Junction | Portsmouth | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,475 |
3,364Lowest |
22,545Highest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 7.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
| White River Junction 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% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Enfield and Portsmouth 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% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Portsmouth 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. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Portsmouth 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. |
$278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563 16% below U.S. |
$1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,203 99% above U.S. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$8,018Highest 157% above U.S. |
$5,985 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Portsmouth 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% |
12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth and White River Junction 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — | Portsmouth School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Portsmouth High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.4Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.