Compare towns
Canaan vs Lyme vs Newfields vs Orford
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).
Lyme has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Newfields has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.3%).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).
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 | Newfields | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,811Highest |
1,710 |
2,023 |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
| Orford 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Orford 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% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Canaan 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±$15k 35% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,263±$686 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,985 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest 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% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 77.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Newfields 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 | Lyme School District | Newfields School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.3Highest |
— | — | 9.5Lowest |
| 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.