Compare towns
Canaan vs Lyme vs Dorchester
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).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k 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 | Lyme | Dorchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
1,710 |
410Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
— |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Canaan 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% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester 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% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
0.5%±3.1Lowest 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 | $81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
— |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
40 minHighest 50% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.2%±8.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #83 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Lyme School District | — |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | — |
| 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.