Compare towns
Lyme vs Canaan vs Lebanon vs Orford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Lebanon has grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.6%).
Orford has the oldest population (median age 48.9).
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 | Lyme | Canaan | Lebanon | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
3,811 |
14,999Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
0% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
38.9±3.1Lowest 10% below NH |
48.9±3.3Highest 13% above NH |
| Orford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.6%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.4%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
25.5%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.5% NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
6.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 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 | $133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$98,147±$10k about the NH average |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$385,400±$29k 4% below NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,744±$132Highest 17% above NH |
$1,263±$686 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
$8,149 22% above NH |
$5,836Lowest 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.9%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest 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 | 4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
51.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
14 minLowest 48% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest 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 | — | #83 of 120 in NH | #29 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Lebanon School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Lebanon High School | Rivendell Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3 |
11.7Highest |
9.5Lowest |
| 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.