Compare towns
Lyme vs Canaan vs Orford vs Thetford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Lyme | Canaan | Orford | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
3,811Highest |
1,295Lowest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
48.9±3.3Highest 26% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.5%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44% U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Thetford 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 66% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
$92,571±$24k 15% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16k 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$271,900±$25k 18% below U.S. |
$329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,263±$686 11% below U.S. |
$1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,985 92% above U.S. |
$5,836Lowest 87% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 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 | 4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Highest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 min 3% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #83 of 120 in NH | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Lyme School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Rivendell Interstate School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Rivendell Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Highest |
9.5Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.