Compare towns
Lyme vs Williston vs Canaan
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 expensive homes ($645k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
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 | Williston | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,710Lowest |
10,144Highest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Williston 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% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston 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% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Canaan and Williston 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$81,583±$6kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Lyme and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$254,000±$26kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,140±$90Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$5,985 92% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.4%±25.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Canaan and Lyme 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% |
4.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 min 21% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Williston 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 | — | #11 of 70 in VT | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Lyme School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.