Compare towns

Brookfield vs Strafford vs Lyman

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brookfield has the most homeowners (98.4%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Lyman has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.8%).

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.

MeasureBrookfieldStraffordLyman
People
Population
567
1,372Highest
464Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-0.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
58.1±9.7
49% above U.S.
51.4±4.7Lowest
32% above U.S.
60.8±6.5Highest
56% above U.S.
Lyman and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
8.6%±4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.3%±6.7
U.S.: 22%
Strafford and Lyman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
38.4%±3.4
U.S.: 17.2%
22.1%±3.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
38.6%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Lyman and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
36.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
53.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
27.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.5%±5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±2.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Brookfield and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$81,406±$31k
about the U.S. average
$110,833±$19kHighest
37% above U.S.
$71,042±$17kLowest
12% below U.S.
Strafford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$428,000±$61k
29% above U.S.
$431,300±$40kHighest
30% above U.S.
$311,100±$66kLowest
6% below U.S.
Strafford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly —
$1,125±$789Lowest
20% below U.S.
$1,147±$81Highest
19% below U.S.
Lyman and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,926
90% above U.S.
$7,149Highest
129% above U.S.
$3,981Lowest
28% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent —
44.6%±48Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.3%±100Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Lyman and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
14.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
98.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
88.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1985Highest
5 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
3% above U.S.
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
13.7%±6.8
U.S.: 15.1%
16.1%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
3.7%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Strafford and Brookfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Schools
School district — Strafford School District —
High school in town — None in town —
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.