Compare towns
Hartford vs Lyme vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hartford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.4%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Hartford | Lyme | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,736Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.2±3.9Lowest 11% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $304,500±$26k 8% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$118 14% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,985 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #34 of 70 in VT | — | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hartford School District | Lyme School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Hartford High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.6Lowest |
— | 10.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.