NHES and ELMI agency logos
New Hampshire Employment Security - an official New Hampshire Government web site
Smaller text size Reset text size Larger text size

ELMI Home > Products > Community Profiles >

Community Profiles

Canterbury, NH


Canterbury New Hampshire Community Profile Community Contact Town of Canterbury
Roger A. Becker, Town Administrator
PO Box 500
Canterbury, NH 03224
Telephone (603) 783-9955
Fax (603) 783-0501
E-mail canterburyadministrator@myfairpoint.net
Web Site www.canterbury-nh.org

Municipal Office Hours Selectmen: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9 am - 1 pm; Town Clerk: Monday, 9 am - 3 pm, Tuesday, 11 am - 6 pm, Thursday, 4 pm - 8 pm

County Merrimack
Labor Market Area Concord NH Micro-NECTA
Tourism Region Merrimack Valley
Planning Commission Central NH Regional
Regional Development Capital Regional Development Council

Election Districts
US Congress District 2
Executive Council District 2
State Senate District 7
State Representative Merrimack County Districts 9, 26

Incorporated: 1741
Origin: First granted in 1727, the town was named for William Wake, Archbishop of Canterbury. Canterbury in England is famous for its cathedral, and for being the center of English Christianity since 597 AD. The town was originally a fort or trading post where the Penacook Indians came to trade. Canterbury Shaker Village was first established in 1792, a self-contained community of the United Society of Believers, known as the Shaking Quakers or Shakers, because of their use of dance in worship. Today, the Canterbury Shaker Village is an outdoor museum and designated National Historic Landmark.
Villages and Place Names: Boyce, Canterbury Station, Canterbury Center, Hills Corner, Kezer Seminary, Shaker Village
Population, Year of the First Census Taken: 1,038 residents in 1790
Population Trends: Population change for Canterbury totaled 1,681 over 51 years, from 674 in 1960 to 2,355 in 2011. The largest decennial percent change was a 58 percent increase between 1970 and 1980, accounting for over one-third of the total population change. The 2011 Census estimate for Canterbury was 2,355 residents, which ranked 127th among New Hampshire's incorporated cities and towns.
Population Density and Land Area, 2010 (US Census Bureau): 54.0 persons per square mile of land area. Canterbury contains 43.6 square miles of land area and 0.8 square miles of inland water area.

MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Type of Government Selectmen
Budget: Municipal Appropriations, 2012 $2,433,058
Budget: School Appropriations, 2012 $3,785,665
Zoning Ordinance 1956/11
Master Plan 2010
Capitol Improvement Plan Yes
Industrial Plans Reviewed By Planning Board
Boards and Commissions
Elected:Selectmen; Planning; Library
Appointed:Zoning; Conservation; Recreation; Recycling; Agriculture
Public Library Elkins Public

EMERGENCY SERVICES
Police Department Full-time
Fire Department Volunteer
Emergency Medical Service Full-time
Nearest Hospital(s) Distance Staffed Beds
Concord Hospital, Concord 14 miles 211

UTILITIES
Electric Supplier PSNH; NH Electric Coop; Concord Electric
Natural Gas Supplier Liberty Utilities
Water Supplier Private wells
Sanitation Private septic
Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plant No
Solid Waste Disposal
Curbside Trash PickupNone
Pay-As-You-Throw ProgramYes
Recycling ProgramMandatory
Telephone Company Fairpoint
Cellular Telephone Access Yes
Cable Television Access Yes
Public Access Television Station No
High Speed Internet Service:
BusinessYes
ResidentialYes

(NH Dept. of Revenue Adminstration)PROPERTY TAXES
2011 Total Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $25.33
2011 Equalization Ratio 100.0
2011 Full Value Tax Rate (per $1,000 of value) $25.08
2011 Percent of Local Assessed Value by Property Type
Residential Land and Buildings92.2%
Commercial Land and Buildings5.2%
Public Utilities, Current Use, and Other2.6%

(ACS 2007-2011)HOUSING
Total Housing Units 1,023
Single-Family Units, Detached or Attached 941
Units in Multiple-Family Structures:  
Two to Four Units in Structure 54
Five or More Units in Structure 0
Mobile Homes and Other Housing Units 28
(US Census Bureau)DEMOGRAPHICS
Total Population Community County
2011 2,355 146,579
2010 2,352 146,445
2000 1,991 136,716
1990 1,692 120,618
1980 1,410 98,302
1970 895 80,925
 
Demographics, American Community Survey (ACS) 2007-2011
Population by Gender
Male:   1,161 Female:   1,297
Population by Age Group
Under age 5 150
Age 5 to 19 452
Age 20 to 34 273
Age 35 to 54 827
Age 55 to 64 434
Age 65 and over 322
Median Age 44.7 years
Educational Attainment, population 25 years and over
High school graduate or higher 96.0%
Bachelor's degree or higher 42.7%

(ACS 2007-2011)INCOME, 2011 INFLATION ADJUSTED $
Per capita income $35,516
Median family income $83,882
Median household income $79,453
Median Earnings, full-time, year-round workers
Male $57,961
Female $38,816
Families below the poverty level 0.8%

(NHES - ELMI)LABOR FORCE
Annual Average 2001 2011
Civilian Labor Force 1,264 1,420
Employed 1,227 1,357
Unemployed 37 63
Unemployment Rate 2.9% 4.4%

(NHES - ELMI)EMPLOYMENT & WAGES
Annual Average Covered Employment 2001 2011
Goods Producing Industries
Average Employment 55 18
Average Weekly Wage $472 $493
     
Service Providing Industries
Average Employment 167 173
Average Weekly Wage $495 $602
     
Total Private Industry
Average Employment 223 191
Average Weekly Wage $490 $592
     
Government (Federal, State, and Local)
Average Employment 45 67
Average Weekly Wage $325 $595
     
Total, Private plus Government
Average Employment 268 258
Average Weekly Wage $462 $593
n = indicates that the data does not meet disclosure standards

(NH Dept. of Education)EDUCATION/CHILD CARE FACILITIES
Schools students attend: Grades K-12 are part of Shaker Regional (Belmont, Canterbury) SAU 80
Career Technology Center(s): J. Oliva Huot Technical Center, Laconia; Winnisquam Regional High School, Tilton Region: 8
Educational Facilities Elementary Middle/Junior High High School Private/Parochial
Number of Schools 1 2
Grade Levels K R 1-5 1-8
Total Enrollment 123 22
2012 NH Licensed Child Care Facilities (Bureau of Child Care Licensing): Total Facilities: 2 Total Capacity: 33
Nearest Community/Technical College: NHTI-Concord
Nearest Colleges or Universities: UNH School of Law

LARGEST BUSINESSES PRODUCT/SERVICE EMPLOYEES ESTABLISHED
Canterbury Shaker Village Tours, restaurant 15+
Canterbury Elementary School Education 25

(Distance estimated from city/town hall)TRANSPORTATION
Road Access US Routes
State Routes 106, 132
Nearest Interstate, Exit I-93, Exit 18
Distance Local access
Railroad State owned line
Public Transportation No
 
Nearest Public Use Airport, General Aviation
Concord Municipal
Runway 6,005 ft. asphalt
Lighted? Yes Navigational Aids? Yes
Nearest Airport with Scheduled Service
Manchester-Boston Regional Distance 35 miles
Number of Passsenger Airlines Serving Airport 4
 
Driving distance to selected cities:
Manchester, NH 29 miles
Portland, ME 122 miles
Boston, MA 80 miles
New York City, NY 285 miles
Montreal, Quebec 246 miles

(ACS 2007-2011)COMMUTING TO WORK
Workers 16 years and over
Drove alone, car/truck/van 78.1%
Carpooled, car/truck/van 10.3%
Public transportation 0.0%
Walked 2.1%
Other Means 2.9%
Worked at home 6.6%
Mean Travel Time to Work 26.0 minutes
 
Percent of Working Residents: (ACS 2007-2011)
Working in community of residence 71.3%
Commuting to another NH community 22.6%
Commuting out-of-state 6.1%
RECREATION, ATTRACTIONS, AND EVENTS
Municipal Parks
YMCA/YWCA
Boys Club/Girls Club
X Golf Courses
Swimming: Indoor Facility
Swimming: Outdoor Facility
Tennis Courts: Indoor Faclity
Tennis Courts: Outdoor Facility
Ice Skating Rink: Indoor Facility
Bowling Facilities
Museums
Cinemas
Performing Arts Facilities
Tourists Attractions
X Youth Organizations (i.e., Scouts, 4-H)
Youth Sports: Baseball
Youth Sports: Soccer
Youth Sports: Football
Youth Sports: Basketball
Youth Sports: Hockey
Campgrounds
Fishing/Hunting
Boating/Marinas
Snowmobile Trails
Bicycle Trails
Cross Country Skiing
Beach or Waterfront Recreational Area
Overnight or Day Camps
   
Nearest Ski Area(s): Gunstock
   
Other: Shaker Village

Economic & Labor Market Information Bureau, NH Employment Security, 2013.
Community Response Received 07/12/12

All information regarding the communities is from sources deemed reliable and is submitted subject to errors, omissions, modifications, and withdrawals without notice. No warranty or representation is made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein. Specific questions regarding individual cities and towns should be directed to the community contact.

 

New Hampshire Employment Security (NHES)
32 South Main Street  |  Concord NH 03301  |  603-224-3311  |  1-800-852-3400
TDD Access: Relay NH 1-800-735-2964
webmaster@nhes.nh.gov for web page related issues only