Compare towns
Dorchester vs Marlow vs Canaan vs Lyme
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).
Marlow has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Canaan has the youngest population (median age 44.4).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k 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 | Dorchester | Marlow | Canaan | Lyme |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 410Lowest |
855 |
3,811Highest |
1,710 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±10.5Highest 29% above NH |
52.8±11.7 22% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
| Dorchester and Marlow 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% |
20.5%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Marlow 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% |
30.5%±5.7 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Dorchester and Marlow 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% |
33.4% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.5%±3.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±2.2 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Marlow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | — | $110,455±$12k 12% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
| Lyme and Marlow 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 |
$325,400±$49k 19% below NH |
$254,000±$26k 37% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,154±$160 23% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
| Lyme and Marlow 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 |
$5,826 13% below NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
18.2%±95.1 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 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% |
8.9% NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 40 minHighest 50% above NH |
35 min 31% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 12.2%±8.8 NH: 16.8% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | — | #83 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Marlow School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Lyme School District |
| High school in town | — | None 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 | 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.