Compare towns
Lancaster vs Exeter vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most kids (20.9% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Canaan has the most homeowners (77.3%).
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 | Lancaster | Exeter | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Lancaster 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,140±$90 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Canaan 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.