Compare towns
Lyme vs Canterbury vs Seabrook
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).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Seabrook has the most renters (31.8% 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 | Canterbury | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
2,353 |
8,427Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Lowest 12% above NH |
48.6±3.8Lowest 12% above NH |
54±1.9Highest 25% above NH |
| Seabrook 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% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook and Lyme 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% NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest 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±$37k 31% above NH |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below 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±$21k 10% above NH |
$443,500±$40kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130Lowest 5% below NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,542±$174 3% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$5,785Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 22% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Canterbury 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 | — | — | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Shaker Regional School District | Seabrook School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.