Compare towns
Lyme vs Canaan vs South Berwick
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 people working from home (27.2%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
South Berwick has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.4%).
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 | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
3,811 |
7,670Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7 14% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Lyme and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Lyme 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%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and South Berwick 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 |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,985 92% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and South Berwick 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 | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Lyme School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.3Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| 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.