Compare towns
Plymouth vs Lyme vs Canaan vs Campton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Lyme has grown the fastest since 2010 (+1.7%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Campton has the most homeowners (94.3%).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth | Lyme | Canaan | Campton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,811 |
3,407 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
49.2±3.7Highest 14% above NH |
| Campton and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±6.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±10.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Lyme and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
51.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$81,583±$6k 18% below NH |
$118,870±$21k 20% above NH |
| Lyme and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $292,400±$22k 27% below NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
$356,300±$38k 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,140±$90 24% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,028 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
72.6%±44.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Campton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.5% NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
23 min 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
28.3%±10.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Campton and Lyme 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 | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #83 of 120 in NH | #68 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Lyme School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Campton School District |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
— |
| 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.