What stands out worked out from the figures below

Northfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+0.9%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Northfield	Canaan
People
Population	4,971Highest	3,811Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.9%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average	44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average
	Canaan and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2%	14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Northfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	19.1%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Canaan and Northfield 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 NH: 40.6%	28.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 6%	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
	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 6% below NH	$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH
	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 28% below NH	$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH
	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 28% below NH	$1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH
	Canaan and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,097Lowest 24% below NH	$5,985Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2%	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line	8.1%Lowest NH: 7.2%	13.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8%	77.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minLowest 4% below NH	30 minHighest 12% above NH
Work from home	6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Canaan and Northfield 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	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.