Compare towns
Canaan vs Hampton Falls vs Lyme vs Orange
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 most affordable homes ($254k median).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Orange has the most homeowners (97.5%).
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 | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
2,328 |
1,710 |
320Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
41.3±9.1Lowest 5% below 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% |
20.6%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Orange 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%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Hampton Falls 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% |
37.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$118,750±$39k 20% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$302,600±$35k 25% 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±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,852±$475Highest 24% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% 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 |
$5,132Lowest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
9.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
97.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 min 5% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
20.8%±8.9 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Hampton Falls School District | Lyme School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | 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.