Compare towns
Epping vs Lyme vs Thetford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Epping has grown the fastest since 2010 (+11.1%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Epping | Lyme | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5 16% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lyme and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7k 29% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35k 31% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Highest 23% above U.S. |
$1,418±$130 about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Epping and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Lowest 122% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Epping and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Epping School District | Lyme School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3 |
— | — |
| 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.