Compare towns
Plymouth vs Lyme vs Canaan vs Plymouth
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).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k median).
Plymouth has grown the fastest since 2010 (+6.1%).
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 | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,601Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,811 |
4,969 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+6.1%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 24.6±3.4 43% below NH |
48.6±7.8Highest 12% above NH |
44.4±3.7 about the NH average |
22.8±0.9Lowest 47% below NH |
| Lyme and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.6%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lyme and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
9.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
63.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 33.7%±3.5 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
42.5%±2.1Highest 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 |
$89,500±$32k 10% below NH |
| Lyme and Plymouth 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 |
$294,400±$28k 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,140±$90 24% below NH |
$1,296±$295 13% below NH |
| Lyme and Plymouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,288 6% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,985Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,483 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.8%±10.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Lyme 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% |
17% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.3% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
50.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 min 31% below NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
16 minLowest 39% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #47 of 120 in NH | — | #83 of 120 in NH | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District | Lyme School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | — |
| High school in town | Plymouth Regional High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School | — |
| 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.