What stands out worked out from the figures below

Walpole has the most kids (22.2% under 18).

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	Walpole	Canaan
People
Population	3,690Lowest	3,811Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-2.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	46.5±10.4Highest 7% above NH	44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average
	Walpole and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.2%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2%	14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Walpole and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	25.5%±5.4Highest NH: 20.1%	19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Walpole and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	32.9%Highest NH: 40.6%	28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4%±2.8Lowest NH: 6%	7%±2.5Highest NH: 6%
	Canaan and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$82,617±$16kHighest 17% below NH	$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH
	Walpole and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$319,800±$48kHighest 21% below NH	$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH
	Walpole and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,165±$150Highest 22% below NH	$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH
	Walpole and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$6,078Highest 9% below NH	$5,985Lowest 10% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	51.6%±21.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Canaan and Walpole are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	11.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%	13.6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.9%Lowest NH: 72.8%	77.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH	1975Highest 4 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 13% below NH	30 minHighest 12% above NH
Work from home	7.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8%	14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8%
	Canaan and Walpole 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	#27 of 120 in NH	#83 of 120 in NH
School district	Fall Mountain Regional 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.