Canaan is a town in Grafton County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 3,909 at the 2010 census. It is the location of Mascoma State Forest. Canaan is home to the Cardigan Mountain School, the town's largest employer.The main village of the town, where 524 people resided at the 2010 census, is defined as the Canaan census-designated place, and is located at the junction of U.S. Route 4 with New Hampshire Route 118.