Compare towns
Wolfeboro vs Lyme 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
Wolfeboro has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.3%).
Lyme has the highest household income ($134k).
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 | Wolfeboro | Lyme | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,571Highest |
1,710Lowest |
3,811 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
48.6±7.8 12% above NH |
44.4±3.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Wolfeboro and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6 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+ | 34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.5%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45% NH: 40.6% |
70.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
7%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Canaan and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
$133,906±$15kHighest 35% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $546,500±$60k 36% above NH |
$645,000±$64kHighest 60% above NH |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,418±$130Highest 5% below NH |
$1,140±$90 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest 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 | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.9%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
27.2%±5.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Lyme and Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH | — | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Lyme School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | Kingswood Regional High School | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| 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.