Canaan

Grafton CountyUpper ValleyPopulation: 3,794

Overview

Canaan is a small rural town in Grafton County with a quiet, peaceful atmosphere.

Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Gateway to the Dartmouth–Lake Sunapee region with multiple lakes
  • Canaan Street Lake and Baker River trails for paddling and hiking
  • Close-knit community with monthly farmers markets and town breakfasts

Cons

  • Limited year-round employment; many commute to Lebanon or Concord
  • Distance from tertiary healthcare can exceed 30 miles

Cost of Owning Here

Official property tax rates published by the NH Department of Revenue Administration, plus estimated tax bills for Canaan.

2025 Local Tax Rate
$31.16
per $1,000 assessed value
2025 Effective (Equalized) Rate
$19.04
Equalization ratio: 61%
Municipal
$8.80
Local School
$19.36
State Education
$1.49
County
$1.51

Why "Effective Rate" is a better comparison

New Hampshire towns do not all assess property at the same percentage of market value. The state publishes an annual equalization ratio for every municipality showing how close local assessments are to full market value. A town that assesses homes at only 64% of market value will show an artificially high tax rate compared to a town that assesses at 100%. Multiplying the local rate by the equalization ratio produces an effective (equalized) rate that can be fairly compared across any two towns in the state.

YearTotal RateEffective RateMunicipalLocal SchoolState Ed.County
2025$31.16$19.04$8.80$19.36$1.49$1.51

Source: NH DRA

Example Tax Bills for 2025

Home ValueEstimated Annual TaxEstimated Monthly
$250,000$7,790$649
$350,000$10,906$909
$500,000$15,580$1,298
$750,000$23,370$1,948
$1,000,000$31,160$2,597

Estimates calculated using the 2025 local tax rate of $31.16 per $1,000 of assessed value. Actual tax bills depend on your property's specific assessed value and any exemptions or credits you may qualify for.

Climate & Environment

Summer Avg High
76.6°F
Winter Avg High
32.2°F
Annual Snowfall
70.7 in
Annual Rainfall
47.8 in
Sunny Days/Year
257
Data source: Open-Meteo / ERA5Updated 7/3/2026

Transportation & Commute

Commute to Major Cities

Boston
125 mi
~154 min drive
Manchester
75 mi
~96 min drive
Portsmouth
116 mi
~146 min drive
Concord
46 mi
~77 min drive
Data source: OpenRouteService / OpenStreetMapUpdated 7/3/2026

Safety & Crime

Safety Score
8/10
Crime Rate
8.43/1,000
Crime Trend
stable

Recreation & Outdoors

Outdoor Recreation Score
44/100
Trail Miles
27.0
0
Boat Launches
4
State Parks
2
0

Winter & Camping

Snowmobile Trails:31 miles
XC Ski Trails:0 miles
Campgrounds:2

Economy & Demographics

💰Income

Median Household Income
$79,540
Per Capita Income
$39,261
Median Family Income
$101,071

🏠Housing Costs

Median Home Value
$225,400
Median Rent
$910/mo
Homeownership Rate
82%

💼Employment

Unemployment Rate
3.61%
In Labor Force
2,076
Work From Home
0.6%

🎓Education

Bachelor's Degree or Higher
14.91%
Total with Degree
454

🚗Commute

Work From Home
0.6%

👥Demographics

Median Age
45.9 years
Avg Household Size
2.59 people
Data source: Census ACS 2022 (5-Year)Census Data Year: 2022Updated 7/3/2026

Condo Communities in Canaan

one registered condo association — offering active low-maintenance living options.

Source: Grafton County Audit - AI Discovery (data as of August 2026)

Compare Canaan with Other Towns

See how Canaan stacks up against other NH communities.