Compare towns
Lebanon vs Canaan vs Lyme vs Dover
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lebanon has the shortest commute (14 min average).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Dover has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.2%).
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 | Lebanon | Canaan | Lyme | Dover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 14,999 |
3,811 |
1,710Lowest |
33,364Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.6% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+9.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.9±3.1 10% below NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
36.9±1.9Lowest 15% below NH |
| Lyme and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 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+ | 21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 57.5% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Lebanon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$94,829±$7k 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$436,700±$20k 8% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
| Lebanon and Dover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,149 22% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,249 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.9%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 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 | 7% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 14 minLowest 48% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Lebanon 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 | #29 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH | — | #64 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lebanon School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Lyme School District | Dover School District |
| High school in town | Lebanon High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Dover Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
10.3Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| 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.