The Town FilesCanaan, New Hampshire
Town in Grafton County · population 3,794 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $254,000
- Household income
- $81,583
- Jan low / Jul high
- 7° / 80°
- Snow a year
- 68 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 44.4
Canaan is a town of 3,794 people in Grafton County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $254,000, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks better transit than 77% of New Hampshire towns.
How Canaan ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Canaan is worth $254,000, below the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 3.1 times the median household income of $81,583, which is more affordable than 88% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,140 a month. 77.3% of households own their home.
| Housing | Canaan | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $254,000 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,140 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $81,583 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 77.3% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1975 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 13.6% | — |
Who lives in Canaan
| People | Canaan | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44.4 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 19.1% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 14.7% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 28.2% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 13.6% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 4.5% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 1.7% | — |
| Work from home | 14.9% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 30.0 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 90.4% | 92.5% |
Weather in Canaan
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 7.2°F. About 40.2 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 67.5 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 5 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 199 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canaan since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 1 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F2, struck on May 11, 1973 about 9.4 miles from the town center. The most recent was on August 21, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 14 times; the largest was 3.00 inches on June 22, 2008.
Severe weather in Grafton County since 1996
Grafton County has been included in 40 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4812: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| February 27, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4761: Severe Storm And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Grafton County
Grafton County had 54,323 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,105 a year. Unemployment was 1.9% in 2023; in Canaan itself the ACS puts it at 9.6%.
Public schools in Canaan
3 public schools with 862 students, about 12.0 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mascoma Valley Regional High School | 9-12 | 336 | 12.0 |
| Indian River School | 5-8 | 294 | 12.3 |
| Canaan Elementary School | PK-4 | 232 | 11.6 |
Towns near Canaan
- Enfield, NH6.9 mi · 4,465 people · home $390,800
- Hanover, NH7.4 mi · 11,870 people · home $824,900
- Lebanon, NH11.1 mi · 14,282 people · home $385,400
- Hanover, NH11.6 mi · 9,078 people · home $842,600
- Grantham, NH12.9 mi · 3,404 people · home $343,100
- Wilder, VT13.8 mi · 3,071 people · home $273,200
- White River Junction, VT14.5 mi · 2,532 people · home $278,800
- Thetford, VT14.5 mi · 2,775 people · home $329,500
Canaan questions
Is Canaan, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Canaan scores better for retirees than 33% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 63%. 19.1% of residents are 65 or older (median age 44.4).
How much does a house cost in Canaan?
The median owner-occupied home in Canaan is valued at $254,000 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $81,583, so homes cost about 3.1 times income. Median rent is $1,140 a month.
What is the weather like in Canaan?
July highs average 79.5°F and January lows 7.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 40.2 inches of precipitation a year and 67.5 inches of snow.
Does Canaan get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canaan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F2 on May 11, 1973. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)