Compare towns
Pittsfield vs Canaan vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pittsfield has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Canaan has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Franklin has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.1%).
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 | Pittsfield | Canaan | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,105 |
3,811Lowest |
8,799Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.8% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±5.1Lowest 4% below NH |
44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
42.7±2 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 | 20.8%±6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Pittsfield and Franklin 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%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±3.9Highest 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+ | 22.7% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±3.1 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4Lowest 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±$14k 25% below NH |
$81,583±$6kHighest 18% below NH |
$71,648±$4kLowest 28% 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 |
$262,200±$22k 35% below NH |
| Pittsfield and Franklin 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±$90 24% below NH |
$1,110±$68Lowest 26% 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 | $5,694 15% below NH |
$5,985Highest 10% below NH |
$4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.5%±27.3 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.8% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 12% above NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.6%±5 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest 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 | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pittsfield School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | Pittsfield High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.