What stands out worked out from the figures below

Pittsfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (-0.8%).

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	Pittsfield	Canaan
People
Population	4,105Highest	3,811Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.8%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH	44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average
	Canaan and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	20.8%±6Highest NH: 18.2%	14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Pittsfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	18.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1%	19.1%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1%
	Canaan and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	22.7%Lowest NH: 40.6%	28.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6%	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
	Canaan and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$74,318±$14kLowest 25% below NH	$81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH
	Canaan and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,800±$30kHighest 27% below NH	$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH
	Pittsfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,239±$182Highest 17% below NH	$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH
	Pittsfield and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,694Lowest 15% below NH	$5,985Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	67.5%±27.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Pittsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	13.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	68.8%Lowest NH: 72.8%	77.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	27 minLowest about the NH average	30 minHighest 12% above NH
Work from home	11.6%±5Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Canaan and Pittsfield 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	#93 of 120 in NH	#83 of 120 in NH
School district	Pittsfield School District	Mascoma Valley Regional School District
High school in town	Pittsfield High School	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.