The Town FilesCanaan, Vermont
Town in Essex County · population 896 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $201,900
- Household income
- $55,606
- Jan low / Jul high
- 0° / 76°
- Snow a year
- 111 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 53.2
Canaan is a town of 896 people in Essex County, Vermont. The median home is worth $201,900, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). It ranks quieter than 96% of Vermont towns, easier by car than 74% of Vermont towns, better for first-time buyers than 70% of Vermont towns.
How Canaan ranks
Percentile among Vermont towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of Vermont towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Canaan is worth $201,900, below the typical Vermont town ($278,700). Homes cost about 3.6 times the median household income of $55,606, which is more affordable than 52% of Vermont towns. 91.4% of households own their home.
| Housing | Canaan | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $201,900 | $278,700 |
| Median rent | — | $1,117 |
| Median household income | $55,606 | $76,895 |
| Home value ÷ income | 3.6× | 3.6× |
| Homeownership | 91.4% | 81.6% |
| Median year built | 1972 | 1976 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 25.5% | — |
Who lives in Canaan
| People | Canaan | Typical Vermont town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 53.2 | 45.7 |
| Age 65 and over | 28.5% | 22.2% |
| Under 18 | 15.8% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 13.8% | 38.9% |
| Below the poverty line | 10.4% | 8.6% |
| Veterans | 4.7% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 3.3% | — |
| Work from home | 15.4% | 14.9% |
| Average commute | 20.0 min | 25.2 min |
| Homes with broadband | 92.7% | 89.3% |
Weather in Canaan
July highs average 75.5°F and January lows 0.2°F. About 42.8 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 111.1 inches of snow (typical Vermont town: 84.3 in). Expect about 0 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 2 for the typical Vermont town. The strongest, an EF0, struck on July 26, 2011 about 7.9 miles from the town center. The most recent was on July 26, 2011.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 10 times; the largest was 1.75 inches on July 18, 2016.
Severe weather in Essex County since 1996
Essex County has been included in 30 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, biological.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| September 26, 2024 | Flood | DR-4826: Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 20, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4810: Severe Storm, Flooding, Landslides, And Mudslides |
| August 8, 2024 | Tropical Storm | EM-3609: Tropical Depression Debby |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4770: Severe Winter Storm |
| March 2, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4762: Severe Storm And Flooding |
Jobs and pay in Essex County
Essex County had 1,069 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $49,646 a year. Unemployment was 2.9% in 2023; in Canaan itself the ACS puts it at 5%.
Public schools in Canaan
2 public schools with 158 students, about 6.9 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canaan Schools | PK-12 | 158 | 6.9 |
| Canaan High School CTE Program | 9-12 | — | — |
Towns near Canaan
- Colebrook, NH8.4 mi · 1,201 people · home $156,700
- Stewartstown, NH9.6 mi · 813 people · home $210,400
- Colebrook, NH11.4 mi · 2,084 people · home $192,200
- Columbia, NH12.8 mi · 659 people · home $196,400
- Morgan, VT18.0 mi · 638 people · home $311,300
- Island Pond, VT18.7 mi · 750 people · home $145,800
- Brighton, VT18.9 mi · 1,157 people · home $163,900
- Holland, VT19.1 mi · 632 people · home $209,400
Canaan questions
Is Canaan, Vermont a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Canaan scores better for retirees than 42% of Vermont towns and quieter than 96%. 28.5% of residents are 65 or older (median age 53.2).
How much does a house cost in Canaan?
The median owner-occupied home in Canaan is valued at $201,900 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $55,606, so homes cost about 3.6 times income. Median rent is — a month.
What is the weather like in Canaan?
July highs average 75.5°F and January lows 0.2°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 42.8 inches of precipitation a year and 111.1 inches of snow.
Does Canaan get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Canaan since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was an EF0 on July 26, 2011. The typical Vermont town has had 2.
- 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)