Compare towns
Haverhill vs Canaan vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Haverhill has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.4%).
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
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 | Haverhill | Canaan | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,611Highest |
3,811 |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.7±10.6Highest 15% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
| Haverhill and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14%±4.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.2% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±3.3 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $85,929±$22kHighest 13% below NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Haverhill and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $247,900±$41k 38% below NH |
$254,000±$26kHighest 37% below NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Canaan and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,115±$84 25% below NH |
$1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Canaan and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,908 11% below NH |
$5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.6%±26.6 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Haverhill are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76.5% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 4.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Lancaster 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 | #95 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Haverhill Cooperative School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Woodsville High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.0Lowest |
10.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.


