Compare towns
Dorchester vs Lyme vs Wentworth 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
Dorchester has the most affordable homes ($140k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Wentworth has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Canaan has the most renters (22.7% 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 | Dorchester | Lyme | Wentworth | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
1,710 |
1,057 |
3,811Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
36±5.1Lowest 17% below NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
| Dorchester and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±7.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Wentworth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 39.8%±15.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.2%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 35.8% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.8% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
2.2%±2.1 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 | — | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$97,708±$24k about the NH average |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
| Lyme and Wentworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $139,600±$133kLowest 65% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$304,500±$39k 24% below NH |
$254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,659±$794Highest 11% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Wentworth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,779Lowest 43% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,532 17% below NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
0%±43.6Lowest 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 | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
81.7% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
20 minLowest 26% below NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.4%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | — | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Lyme School District | Wentworth 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 | 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.