Compare towns
Fairlee vs Lyme vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Fairlee has the oldest population (median age 56.2).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Bradford has the youngest population (median age 42.7).
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 | Fairlee | Lyme | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,066Lowest |
1,710 |
2,827Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8 25% above U.S. |
42.7±3.1Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.2%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bradford and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.9%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Fairlee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Fairlee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $74,760±$10kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$108,162±$15k 34% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $274,200±$39k 18% below U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$258,600±$30kLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,083±$242Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,221±$808 14% below U.S. |
| Lyme and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,617 80% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,472Lowest 43% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.9%±23.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1977Highest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 8% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 15%±7.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lyme and Fairlee 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 | — | — | #45 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Rivendell Interstate School District | Lyme School District | Oxbow Unified Union School District #91 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oxbow Union High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5 |
| 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.