What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).

Canaan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).

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	Lancaster	Canaan
People
Population	3,216Lowest	3,811Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH	44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average
	Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2%	14.7%±4.6Lowest 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+	28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1%	19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lancaster and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	30.1%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6%	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
	Canaan and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH	$81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH
	Canaan and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH	$254,000±$26kHighest 37% below NH
	Canaan and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH	$1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH
	Canaan and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,226Lowest 37% below NH	$5,985Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2%	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	16.7%Highest NH: 7.2%	13.6%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	77.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below NH	30 minHighest 12% above NH
Work from home	11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±6Highest 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	#107 of 120 in NH	#83 of 120 in NH
School district	White Mountains Regional School District	Mascoma Valley Regional School District
High school 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

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.