Compare towns
Lancaster vs Williston vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,216Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±6.9Highest 17% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Lancaster and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±6.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lancaster and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lancaster and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Williston 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 15% below U.S. |
$106,967±$12kHighest 32% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $215,700±$24kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,019±$263Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,140±$90 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,226Lowest 35% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 16.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1942Lowest 38 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | White Mountains Regional School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | None yet |
U.S. 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.