Compare towns
Ashland vs Lyme vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most renters (35.9% rent).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Canaan has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Ashland | Lyme | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183 |
1,710Lowest |
3,811Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,140±$90 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest 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 | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Highest 1 yr older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Lyme School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.