Compare towns
Amherst vs Canaan vs Lyme
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has grown the fastest since 2010 (+4.9%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Amherst | Canaan | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
3,811 |
1,710Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Lyme and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
| Amherst and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Highest about the NH average |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
| Amherst and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773 47% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Highest |
10.3Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.