Compare towns
Canaan vs Hampton Falls vs Lyme vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canaan has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
Hampton Falls has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.5%).
Lyme has the most people working from home (27.2%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Canaan | Hampton Falls | Lyme | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
2,328 |
1,710Lowest |
3,216 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
45.5±6.9 5% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17 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 | 13.6% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
23 min 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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 | #83 of 120 in NH | — | — | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.