Compare towns
Lyme vs Canaan vs Stratham 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 shortest commute (21 min average).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Stratham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+5.7%).
Orford has the most renters (24.5% rent).
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 | Stratham | Orford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,710 |
3,811 |
7,754Highest |
1,295Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%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 |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% 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%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 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% |
69.9% NH: 40.6% |
44% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
5%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Orford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $133,906±$15k 35% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$92,571±$24k 7% below NH |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64k 60% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$271,900±$25k 32% below NH |
| Stratham and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,263±$686 15% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
$9,781 47% 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% |
64%±38.2 NH: 48.2% |
37.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Lyme School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town | Rivendell Academy |
| 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 |
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.