Compare towns
Dover vs Lyme vs Canaan vs Portsmouth
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Dover | Lyme | Canaan | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 33,364Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,811 |
22,545 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Lyme and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
$645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,249 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,018 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.6%±6.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 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 | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1977Highest 2 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 15% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
22 min 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Portsmouth 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | — | #83 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dover School District | Lyme School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Dover Senior High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.7Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
11.4 |
| 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.