Compare towns
Lyme vs Exeter vs Canaan
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k 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.
| Measure | Lyme | Exeter | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Lyme and Exeter 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%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Exeter 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Exeter 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 |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
| Lyme and Exeter 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 |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 5% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,140±$90Lowest 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Exeter 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Exeter 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.