Compare towns
Northfield vs Franklin 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
Northfield has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Franklin | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971 |
8,799Highest |
3,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average |
42.7±2 about the NH average |
44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
| Canaan and Franklin 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% |
17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield and Franklin 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% |
21.3%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Franklin 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% NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
$81,583±$6k 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 |
$262,200±$22k 35% below NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Northfield and Franklin 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 |
$1,110±$68 26% below NH |
$1,140±$90Highest 24% below NH |
| Canaan and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097 24% below NH |
$4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
$5,985Highest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Franklin 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Franklin School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Franklin High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 16.2Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.