What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hartland has the oldest population (median age 53.2).

Canaan has the highest household income ($58k).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hartland	Canaan
People
Population	1,602Lowest	2,063Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-4.3%Lowest ME: +2.6%	-3.6%Highest ME: +2.6%
Median age	53.2±4.7Highest 19% above ME	44.2±6.1Lowest about the ME average
	Hartland and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	19.7%±4.1Lowest ME: 18.1%	22.2%±3.5Highest ME: 18.1%
	Canaan and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	21.8%±2.7Highest ME: 22.4%	18.8%±4.6Lowest ME: 22.4%
	Hartland and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.8%Lowest ME: 36.2%	24.1%Highest ME: 36.2%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1.6%±1Lowest ME: 5.8%	2.5%±1.8Highest ME: 5.8%
	Canaan and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$46,141±$16kLowest 38% below ME	$57,781±$13kHighest 23% below ME
	Canaan and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$139,200±$10kLowest 53% below ME	$159,900±$28kHighest 46% below ME
	Canaan and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$911±$96Lowest 20% below ME	$922±$252Highest 19% below ME
	Canaan and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$1,658Highest 45% below ME	$1,530Lowest 50% below ME
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40.2%±25.6Highest ME: 48.4%	24.3%±27.3Lowest ME: 48.4%
	Hartland and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16%Highest ME: 10.7%	12.9%Lowest ME: 10.7%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.7%Lowest ME: 74.3%	85.7%Highest ME: 74.3%
Typical home builtmedian year	1984Lowest 7 yrs newer than ME	1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	30 minLowest 23% above ME	34 minHighest 38% above ME
Work from home	2.9%±2.3Lowest ME: 15.9%	3.1%±2.2Highest ME: 15.9%
	Canaan and Hartland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	RSU 19	RSU 54/MSAD 54
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	None yet

ME 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.