What stands out worked out from the figures below

Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).

Canterbury has the most affordable homes ($444k median).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Lyme	Canterbury
People
Population	1,710Lowest	2,353Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6%	+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	48.6±7.8 12% above NH	48.6±3.8 12% above NH
Kids under 18	19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2%	17.4%±4.4Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Lyme and Canterbury 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%	22.9%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1%
	Lyme and Canterbury 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%	49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6%	6.8%±3Highest NH: 6%
	Canterbury and Lyme 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	$129,333±$37kLowest 31% above NH
	Lyme and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH	$443,700±$21kLowest 10% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH	$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH	$7,421Lowest 11% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2%	71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Canterbury 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%	5.4%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	80.5%Lowest NH: 72.8%	93.7%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	21 minLowest 22% below NH	33 minHighest 22% above NH
Work from home	27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8%	21.6%±7.4Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Lyme and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district	Lyme School District	Shaker Regional School District
High school in town	None in town	None in town
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.