Compare towns
Lee 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
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Lyme has the most expensive homes ($645k median).
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
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 | Lee | Lyme | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,576Highest |
1,710Lowest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.9±1.9Lowest 10% above U.S. |
48.6±7.8Highest 25% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2 12% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Lee and Lyme are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±6.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Lyme and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
70.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
68% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $131,579±$54k 63% above U.S. |
$133,906±$15kHighest 66% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Lyme and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,600±$61k 44% above U.S. |
$645,000±$64kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,418±$130Highest about the U.S. average |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,661 210% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.3%±53.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lyme and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 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 | 28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 27.6%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.2%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lee and Lyme 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 | #3 of 120 in NH | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Lyme School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 10 photos → | 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.