Compare towns
Winchester vs Middlesex 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
Winchester has the most renters (27.3% rent).
Middlesex has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.8%).
Canaan has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Winchester | Middlesex | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,212Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±4.5Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 20.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,723±$11kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$109,632±$13kHighest 36% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,900±$20kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$376,300±$40kHighest 13% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26k 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,209±$143 14% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359Highest 6% below U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Middlesex and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,314Lowest 70% above U.S. |
$6,483Highest 108% above U.S. |
$5,985 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45%±17.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Winchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
27 minLowest 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 4.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #120 of 120 in NH | — | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winchester School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.