Compare towns
Plaistow vs Norwich 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
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
Norwich has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.8%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
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 | Plaistow | Norwich | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,861Highest |
3,640Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Canaan and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Canaan and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12kHighest 74% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76kHighest 92% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,664±$187Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Plaistow and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,194 131% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,985Lowest 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norwich and Canaan 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Norwich School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Timberlane Regional High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.