What stands out worked out from the figures below

Unity has the oldest population (median age 58).

Canaan has grown the fastest since 2010 (-2.9%).

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	Unity	Canaan
People
Population	1,375Lowest	3,811Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	-2.9%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	58±4.5Highest 34% above NH	44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average
Kids under 18	12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2%	14.7%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Canaan and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1%	19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6%	28.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6%	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$87,500±$16kHighest 12% below NH	$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH
	Unity and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$276,100±$29kHighest 31% below NH	$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH
	Unity and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,625±$804Highest 9% above NH	$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH
	Unity and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,394Lowest 19% below NH	$5,985Highest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	40%±100Lowest NH: 48.2%	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Unity are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	6.3%Lowest NH: 7.2%	13.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	94.5%Highest NH: 72.8%	77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH	1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above NH	30 minLowest 12% above NH
Work from home	9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Canaan and Unity 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	—	#83 of 120 in NH
School district	Unity 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.