Compare towns

White River Junction vs Canaan vs Meredith

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

White River Junction has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.8%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k 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.

MeasureWhite River JunctionCanaanMeredith
People
Population
3,364Lowest
3,811
6,758Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-2.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+6.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
44.4±3.7
14% above U.S.
55.5±3.7Highest
43% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.1%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.7%±4.6
U.S.: 22%
12.6%±3.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
White River Junction and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.1%±4.2
U.S.: 17.2%
34.2%±5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
38.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
45.9%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±1.2
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
$81,583±$6k
about the U.S. average
$87,019±$19kHighest
8% above U.S.
Meredith and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$278,800±$78k
16% below U.S.
$254,000±$26kLowest
24% below U.S.
$480,100±$48kHighest
44% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,222±$216Highest
14% below U.S.
$1,140±$90Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,149±$304
19% below U.S.
White River Junction and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,651
81% above U.S.
$5,985Highest
92% above U.S.
$5,006Lowest
61% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
42.9%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
74.4%±25.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.5%±9.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Canaan and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
13.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
77.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
75.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1963Lowest
17 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1975Highest
5 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
14.9%±6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
23.7%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Meredith and White River Junction 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 #62 of 120 in NH
School district — Mascoma Valley Regional School District Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District
High school in town — Mascoma Valley Regional High School Inter-Lakes High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.3Lowest
11.1Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.