Compare towns
Northfield vs Appleton 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
Northfield has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Appleton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
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 | Northfield | Appleton | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971Highest |
1,360Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
49.2±7.4Highest 26% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
| Appleton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.3%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Northfield and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±9.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Appleton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15kHighest 15% above U.S. |
$53,618±$19kLowest 34% below U.S. |
$81,583±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Northfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33kHighest 13% below U.S. |
$235,600±$33kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
| Northfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,104±$82 22% below U.S. |
$1,140±$90Highest 19% below U.S. |
| Canaan and Appleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097 63% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$5,985Highest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
85.4%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Appleton and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.1%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Canaan and Appleton 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | — | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Appleton Public Schools | 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 History | 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.