Compare towns
Lancaster vs Springfield 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).
Springfield has the most expensive homes ($384k median).
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.
| Measure | Lancaster | Springfield | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216 |
1,122Lowest |
3,811Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-4% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
51.4±8.8Highest 19% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Springfield 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% |
15.1%±8 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Springfield 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% |
19.8%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1% NH: 40.6% |
36.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
0%±1.5Lowest 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 |
$100,893±$19kHighest about the NH average |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
| Springfield and Canaan 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 |
$384,100±$50kHighest 5% below NH |
$254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,096±$217 26% below NH |
$1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH |
| Canaan and Springfield 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 |
$5,946 11% below NH |
$5,985Highest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17 NH: 48.2% |
25.9%±64.8Lowest 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±11.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
| Springfield 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 | — | #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 History | 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.